Fenced-In: Playgrounds and Accessible Parks

Fenced-In: Playgrounds and Accessible Parks

Kids On Playground Outdors

Daniels Park Playground, 38401 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Willoughby. “The playground was built in 2001 and when it was built we decided to completely fence it in,” says Judean Banker, the city’s director of parks and recreation. “We received requests for a fenced-in playground, including from parents who have children with disabilities, stating that it would be easier to bring their children to the playgrounds if they were fenced in.” The playground consists of slides, vertical climbers, horizontal climbers, crawling tubes and bridges. Swings and benches are also located inside the fence.

SKiP (Stow Kids Playground), 3870 Darrow Road. In 1991, residents of Stow came together to build an 11,000-square-foot multi-level wooden playground located at the City Center Complex.

Euclid Tot Park, Cleveland Heights, Turtle Park (ages 2-5), ­corner of Euclid Heights Blvd. and Lancashire — The City of Cleveland Heights has seven playgrounds. ­Euclid Tot Lot is geared solely for 2-5-year-olds and has a fence around the playground.

Bexley Park, 1630 Wrenford Road, South Euclid. Rebuilt in 2011 after a fire, the Playground of Possibilities provides opportunities for all ­children in this accessible multi-sensor community-driven play area. Don’t forget to stop by and look around at the fence pickets with engravings of community members who supported the playground efforts.

Preston’s H.O.P.E., 26001 S. Woodland Ave., Beachwood, park hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Inspired by a family with a son (Preston) born with spinal muscular atrophy, this playground provides an opportunity for children with all abilities to play. According to prestonshope.com, the park “is wired with sounds that can help a visually impaired child navigate. The large windows in the village houses allow parents to use sign language to communicate with their children while they play inside. There are broad ramps throughout the park. The slides have transfer decks so it is ­wheelchair-accessible.

Inclusive Playground at Lorain County Metro Parks, 47160 ­Hollstein Dr., Amherst. Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays, noon-8 p.m., daily admission $2. Scholarships are available. The playground is located on the grounds of the Mercy Health and Recreation ­Center. It provides wheelchair-accessible swingsets as well as several ­sensory activities such as a fishing pond. Participants can explore a bamboo maze, tree house, living willow village — all equipped with ramps for easy access. Children with disabilities can also express their artistic side on stage or just have fun at play in the sand pit, water play area or go down the safe in-ground slide.

Fort Island/Griffith’s Park, 413 Trunko Road, Fairlawn. Griffith’s Park is home to the Learning ­Resource Center, along with a soft surface playground.

Do you know about a fenced-in local playground you would like to add to our list? Email [email protected] or #NEOhioParent.

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