A PLACE TO PLAY
Phoenixville opens new All-Abilities Playground
Phoenixville kids, rejoice. There’s a new playground to explore.
On Wednesday, Phoenixville residents showed up at Reeves Park to witness the ribbon cutting for the borough’s first AllAbilities Playground. The new playground features newly designed swings to accommodate children with special needs, as well as a rolling slide, rock climbing wall and a roundabout with seating. Although not yet finished, the new playground will also include unisex ADA accessible restrooms.
Funding for the project has been a collaborative effort since 2017 between the Borough, the Kiwanis Club, and the Jaycees through donations from community members, private donors, fundraisers, and grants from state programs.
“I was extraordinarily excited about it because my full time career is special education. So I was so excited to not only be part of something bigger as someone in Phoenixville but also as a special educator,” said Beth Burckley, borough council member and member of the Phoenixville Jaycees.
Kids eagerly played on the equipment as guest speakers including Borough Manager Jean Crack, State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, Senator Andy Dinniman, Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler, Borough Council President
Jim Kovaleski and President of the Kiwanis Club Adam Deveney spoke about the project. Each speaker noted not only the help received from various community and state organizations but also from over 100 Phoenixville residents who contributed to the project to make it a reality, including one resident, Genevieve Barker who first came to borough council with the idea.
“When you look at the dollar amount it would take to do this, it was huge. There was a young lady who came to a meeting in 2016 at Borough Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee, Genevieve Barker. Talk about a person who has perseverance. She came to the table and said ‘What are you going to do about it?’ ... She was the Energizer Bunny for that group of people,” said Borough Manager Jean Krack.
Following remarks, officials cut the ribbon to the all-abilities playground at Reeves Park and welcomed families to enjoy the space.
“This space serves as so much more than an area for our community’s children to play and congregate. It is a reflection of our very best selves; a community open to meeting the diverse needs of our people, a place that reflects Phoenixville’s innermost desire to be inclusive and supportive of all of our residents. We are mindful that we owe our existence and vitality to generations of people from all abilities, geographies and walks of life who have contributed their hopes, dreams and energy to shaping our shared home,” said Mayor Peter Urscheler. “As a community we flourish when each of us can contribute whatever we are able, ensuring that our community’s
resources are multiplied and shared by all.”
State Sen. Andy Dinniman, who was in attendance, was responsible for securing $75,000 in state funding for the allabilities playground project.
He said that it was part of a larger effort to ensure that all-abilities playgrounds were accessible to families throughout Chester County.
In addition to Phoenixville’s Reeves Park, Dinniman has secured $25,000 in funding for an all-abilities playground in Oxford and $75,000 in funding for an all-abilities playground that is being developed by a church foundation in New London.
“The goal is to ensure that children of all abilities, including those with physical and sensory challenges, can interact, play together, and learn from each other,” Dinniman said. “I hope that these playgrounds will be an asset for children and families from throughout Chester County.”