To the editor:
As I walk around this city, I see parks and playgrounds that are not wheelchair accessible.
There’s sand under the equipment, making it very inaccessible for people who have disabilities.
Parents can’t push their children on swings, or help them across the monkey bars or even stay near them.
Children who have a disability need to be encouraged to do more, not sit back and watch the other kids play.
When I saw the work underway at the marina, I thought, ‘Good. Maybe there’ll be more things for the kids to do here.’
I’m disappointed to realize that this is only for kids who are able-bodied. Very sad.
There are a lot of playground designs that incorporate accessibility with fun and make a safe place for all to be active.
People on Facebook have also been commenting on how narrow the slide is. There are no sides on it.
I watched in horror as a man grabbed his child just before he fell head first into the dirt.
I have a feeling you’ll be getting a letter from him, since he decided to leave and told his son that they won’t be able to play there, anymore. It’s too dangerous. This is a playground. It shouldn’t be dangerous!
There’s nothing for smaller children, there, either. At least not yet. Where are the swings? Kids love swings!
We have money for skate parks, but no money for playgrounds for children who have a disability to play in?
I know of two parks in this entire city that have easier-access playground equipment, but they have sand, so it’s next to impossible for someone who uses a wheelchair to play there!
There are harder rubber surfaces that are flat, but will buffer a fall. One only has to look it up on the Internet. I’ve been to a playground that has the rubber surface and it is spongey, but one can manoeuvre a wheelchair or walker on it quite well.
I know we can’t re-do all parks, but when a renovation is being done anyway, we should make them accessible to as many people as possible.
Tracy Lynn Hurlbert,
Thunder Bay
As I walk around this city, I see parks and playgrounds that are not wheelchair accessible.
There’s sand under the equipment, making it very inaccessible for people who have disabilities.
Parents can’t push their children on swings, or help them across the monkey bars or even stay near them.
Children who have a disability need to be encouraged to do more, not sit back and watch the other kids play.
When I saw the work underway at the marina, I thought, ‘Good. Maybe there’ll be more things for the kids to do here.’
I’m disappointed to realize that this is only for kids who are able-bodied. Very sad.
There are a lot of playground designs that incorporate accessibility with fun and make a safe place for all to be active.
People on Facebook have also been commenting on how narrow the slide is. There are no sides on it.
I watched in horror as a man grabbed his child just before he fell head first into the dirt.
I have a feeling you’ll be getting a letter from him, since he decided to leave and told his son that they won’t be able to play there, anymore. It’s too dangerous. This is a playground. It shouldn’t be dangerous!
There’s nothing for smaller children, there, either. At least not yet. Where are the swings? Kids love swings!
We have money for skate parks, but no money for playgrounds for children who have a disability to play in?
I know of two parks in this entire city that have easier-access playground equipment, but they have sand, so it’s next to impossible for someone who uses a wheelchair to play there!
There are harder rubber surfaces that are flat, but will buffer a fall. One only has to look it up on the Internet. I’ve been to a playground that has the rubber surface and it is spongey, but one can manoeuvre a wheelchair or walker on it quite well.
I know we can’t re-do all parks, but when a renovation is being done anyway, we should make them accessible to as many people as possible.
Tracy Lynn Hurlbert,
Thunder Bay
