By Lynn B. Johnson, MFA, APR
The playground is a great place to spend time in the summer.
To make the trip even easier, many playgrounds are accessible for children with disabilities.
The Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Cuyahoga DD) keeps a list of accessible playgrounds on its Online Resource Guide: cuyahogadd.org/resources/individual-family-resources/online-resource-guide/inclusive-places/parks-playgrounds
Recently, local cities have received Cuyahoga DD grants to increase playground accessibility.
A 2021 Cuyahoga DD grant for Elle’s Enchanted Forest – Playground for Everyone in Rocky River helped them add “a variety of equipment and accessible pathways for users of all abilities to enjoy,” says Bob Holub, director of recreation for Rocky River.
“Play features include ADA and expression swings, pull-through tables for children with mobility limitations, basket spinners, and more,” he says.
For example, the Village of Newburgh Heights used 2025 grant funds to supplement 2 existing play spaces: Brow Ave. Park and Kathy Edwards Park.
The Brow Avenue Park at E. 54th St. is geared toward younger children. “We purchased a mommy and me swing and a large climbing dome,” says Michelle Graora, a council member. “This complemented a set of swings and two large climbing structures purchased earlier.”
The village also upgraded the Kathy Edwards Park on East 26th St. “This park is very large and has open space for play. We purchased another mommy and me swing, a second climbing dome, and a musical bee which is essentially an outdoor xylophone. We also purchased a wheelchair accessible picnic table,” Graora said.
Kathy Edwards Park also has ramps and a large pavilion where the wheelchair-accessible picnic table is located.
Explore Communication Boards
Did you know that the recreation center playgrounds in Cleveland, Kovacic, Estabrook, and Michael Zone, as well as the Indoor Pool at Fredrick Douglass Recreation Center, have Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) boards?
These AAC boards include words and drawings of playground equipment, along with directions (in, up), verbs (run, go, stop) and declarative statements (hurt, all done).
The hope is that children with speech or language disabilities or delays can fully enjoy playtime and make their wishes known to their caregivers.
A short YouTube video explains how to use the AAC board (youtube.com/watch?v=ASXaKTg9qiQ). The video’s QR code is also on each AAC board at these playgrounds.
Enjoy these and other accessible playgrounds (and don’t forget the sunscreen).
Visit cuyahogadd.org
