Playground equipment to suit kids of all abilities
Playground equipment that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be coming to two parks.
After a long, cold winter, parks throughout the county will soon be brimming with children of all ages — and, in the case of the two county-owned parks — all abilities.
Ulster County Executive Michael Hein said Thursday work to install playground equipment that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act will soon get underway at the County Pool Complex in New Paltz and the Sojourner Truth/ Ulster Landing Park in the town of Ulster.
The equipment at the pool complex should be in place before June 15, when the pool opens for the season, Hein said. The equipment at Soujourner Truth Park should be installed by summer.
“As a parent, I believe with all my heart that every child should have easy access to a playground,” Hein said. “Unfortunately, for children with special challenges, using traditional playgrounds can sometimes be all but impossible.”
“Accessibility is key for independence and inclusiveness, especially for children facing challenges,” Legislator Craig Lopez, who is chairman of the legislature’s Public Health and Social Services Committee and lives with a disability, said in a press release.
Hein said the county’s 2018 budget includes roughly $80,000 for equipment for the two parks and builds on the county’s commitment to make the county’s recreational activities available to everyone.
Hein added that, since taking office, he has overseen the addition of pool lifts at the County Pool Complex and the creation of a wheelchair-accessible walkway at the Sojourner Truth Park that leads to views of the Hudson River.
Additionally, all future rail trails are being designed to include trail surfaces, access points and amenities than can accommodate users of all abilities, he said.
Marcene Johnson, director of Educational Services at the Brookside School, said the new playground equipment will “extend the benefits of play to children regardless of their level of physical ability and (create) a more inclusive playground experience for our youth.”