When able-bodied children have free range to play, run, jump, skip, swing, etc. at a public park, it truly segregates the little ones who weren’t blessed with those abilities to come easily. Having 3 kids who are affected by their gross motor abilities, I have seen firsthand the effects of going to your “average” playground where there isn’t much they can do. I have witnessed my kids swinging on the swings and watching all of the other kids have fun on the playground equipment. I have encouraged my daughter to climb a rock wall only to have her scream for me to come rescue her. That being said, I can’t imagine how left out kids that have even more restricted abilities feel. They just don’t have a place where they feel they can also be free to move. That is what I love about what Rossford, Ohio is doing.
Playing on the playground is something leaders in the city of Rossford want to make sure all kids get the chance to do.
Over the summer (2018) Rossford installed a wheelchair swing at veterans memorial park.
Now the city says they’re taking their handicap playground concept, one step further. The city is building an all-inclusive handicap friendly playground at Veterans Memorial Park (2019).
It all started with Recreation Director Toby Ledesma. He stated, “Our community wants to be more inclusive to all types of kids in our park system and things like that,” said Ledesma. The city received a $31,000 grant that pays for almost half the playground. The other half will come from their capital improvement budget, which is already used to build new playgrounds. This new attraction won’t just be for handicap children, but able-bodied children as well. Parts of the playground, like the monkey bars, will be both handicap and able body friendly.
“It kind of really brings the whole family together. The whole family can go and enjoy the same type of equipment,” said Ledesma.
“I hope this will set a standard for communities around us to do the same. This is so important to not only talk about inclusion but to show it,” said Schwiefert. The park will be installed this summer.
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