BALTIMORE — New playgrounds often have a variety of accessible features, but two Maryland disability agencies are aiming to raise the bar.
With the “Playgrounds for All” initiative, the state’s Developmental Disabilities Council and the Department of Disabilities set out to increase inclusive playgrounds across the state, which go above and beyond the legal baseline established by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The agencies plan to personally inspect the state’s “accessible” playgrounds to see if they truly have a host of inclusive features, like “poured-in-place” rubber surfacing, ground-level equipment, ramps, “roller” equipment and accessible bathrooms.
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Howard County’s Laura’s Place, a $10-million-plus playground at Blandair Park, is being held up as an example by “Playgrounds for All.” It’s also one of just two Baltimore-area playgrounds on the new map.
‘It’s a win-win’
The first thing Paulette Lewis’ 12-year-old son Joshua does when entering Laura’s Place at Blandair Park is make a beeline for the swings. Her son, who has autism and enjoys being at the park, often rolls on the soft safety ground, twirling and stimming.
The park is a 10-minute walk from her house and the family often bikes there. Because of its one-way, double-door entry, when she comes in with Joshua and her two other children — Jaiden, 11, and Joi, 8, — her mental checklist can simmer down and she has peace of mind.
Lewis described Joshua as a “master escape artist,” since he had wandered away from home before. Normally, when taking her children to parks that are not gated, she tends to “get a little antsy.” Eyes darting from child to child, she’s spread thin, making sure they’re all safe.
“I don’t have to worry if he’s going to run away, or if the play equipment suits his needs,” Lewis said. “I could bring Joshua to that park, not worry about him eloping, knowing that he is having fun and being able to regulate his body and feel peace and (have his) anxiety go down, but then (my other kids) have fun at the same time too. It’s a win-win. I literally can go there and not worry.”
Inclusive vs. accessible
Part of the council’s latest five-year plan, which outlines the needs of people with disabilities and guides their work, included “inclusive recreation,” according to Rachel London, executive director for the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council.
After conducting research and developing the framework, the agencies set out to visit the parks that would be included on the website to ensure they met their goals of inclusivity.
“Everyone deserves to be able to play in their community,” London said. “The (Americans with Disabilities Act) sets out minimum standards for accessibility, and then the inclusion piece is more about meaningful engagement in all parts of the playground. It is about not just the equipment or the surface — but the entire feeling of the playground (being) welcoming to all and having features that include different ways to play.”
Howard County has identified at least four playgrounds as “inclusive,” and the Baltimore County government lists Perry Hall’s popular Angel Park playground as the county’s “largest all-inclusive playground.”
There are 19 parks listed on the site; the Department of Disabilities said they have received multiple requests for Angel Park.
“There’s more to be done and we want communities to be able to have this resource,” London said. “Hopefully, this is a huge step forward in making more play spaces truly inclusive for everyone.”
It goes beyond being compliant with the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is often the bare minimum — a “starting point,” but not the goal, according to Kirsten Bosak, director of health and behavioral health policy at the Maryland Department of Disabilities.
The website project came together due to rising concerns with inaccessible playgrounds that had accessible features but were not inclusive. Many parks lack features like wheelchair access and sensory stimuli and thus would not be considered inclusive. Inclusive playgrounds have features that “allow everyone to play together,” the website reads.
Bosak said inclusive playgrounds benefit all. Features such as unitary surfacing, often relied on by people who use wheelchairs, can also be utilized by parents with strollers. Enclosed parks, which are often crucial for parents with children who have autism, also benefit those who have toddlers and young children.
Laura’s Place
The fully fenced, 1-acre playground opened in 2021. It’s a space meant to “encourage children of all ability levels to play together, while accommodating cognitive, communicative, social/emotional and sensory disabilities,” according to a county news release from the same year.
Columbia resident Shubha Royal has a 5-year-old son with autism. Micaiah a fan of anything that spins and gravitates toward the merry-go-round. Oftentimes, he doesn’t even want to go on the platform, Royal said. He enjoys watching the other kids spin around.
Going to Laura’s Place increases the freedom her son can have; she doesn’t need to worry about her son potentially running away.
“The size is really good; (It’s) fenced in — it is a huge upside” Royal said. “It just makes me feel more secure about him being there.”
Acceptance
As a parent to two young sons, Praxie Osong has appreciated Laura’s Place since she herself uses a wheelchair. The Elkridge resident has slowly seen these inclusive features become the standard as new parks are built and old ones redeveloped.
To find a playground that is accessible to her needs, Osong has to do some research and hope pictures are included. She’s eager to now have a database of places she knows she’ll be able to take her kids.
“Blandair, particularly, was extremely thoughtfully designed, especially as a mom in a wheelchair,” she said. “I know that a lot of the focus can sometimes be on making it accessible for a child, which is really important. I think some people forget about making it accessible for (the) caregiver.”
Lewis tries to take her kids to Laura’s Place at least once a week; she has been going since the park opened in 2021.
She believes Laura’s Place was created for children like her son; she feels like he is accepted and he can be himself.
“It’s important because (the park) really does accept our children and says, ‘Hey, these children are here and we need to provide a place for them to be able to play just like any other child would and be safe while doing it,’” Lewis said.
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