Hello,
I am a parent of a disabled child and want to help you become aware of
the need for an accessible playground in our community. I figure this
is a great time to share this info since Reid Park and Fairmount are
going to be updated and expanded soon. Also, there was a recent article
about accessible playgrounds in the Quest Magazine that is made for MDA
(Muscular Dystrophy Association) families.
My daughter, Sara Rose Greene, has Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 1. This
is the most severe form of SMA, but she enjoys life tremendously and
loves it even more when she just gets to sit close by and watch her big
sister Laura play with her friends. Sara is like a parrot and mimics
with her weak speaking abilities whatever her beloved sister and friends
say.
Well when Laura and her friends all want to go to the park it is very
difficult physically and emotionally for us. For instance, at Fairmount
park there is a lot of sand and bumpy terrain which is not wheelchair
accessible. Due to the Sand we can not follow closeby and feel left out
of the zone for hearing the other kids play. A smooth terrain at our
parks, espcially when Sara gets her power chair soon, would help Sara
interact with her friends and family easier. The swings are one
activity that Sara could do if there is an accessible swing. Sara has
very low tone and can not sit in a regular swing. We would appreciate a
handicap swing at Fairmount and Reid Park for Sara and others to enjoy.
As for the other handicap children in our community or their parents
Boundless Playgrounds would help bring disabled people and regular kids
closer together. There are ways to design playgrounds where regular
kids and disabled kids could have fun together. For instance, there
could be an elevated sandbox where a kid could roll up and play parallel
to another child in the sand. Kids should not have to be off to the side
watching others play. There is so much technology today and great
designs that we could incorporate to prevent these unnecessary
boundaries.
Thanks,
Christy Greene
1392
Arthur Ave.
Riverside,
CA 92501
951
782-8874
(Please forward this email to the Parks & Rec Department)
For more info about Accessible playgrounds you could check out these
sites: