Don't Use Wood Chips at Paton Playground

I am very saddened to hear that the PTO have decided to use wood chips as the flooring for the future Paton Playground. Their decision is made up due to past playgrounds using wood chips as the foundation for other Shrewsbury playgrounds. Unfortunately, children and parents who have mobility impairments are not able to safely move around the playground. In fact, they can fall and injure themselves due to sinking into the wood chips. In my opinion, the tradition of building only segregated playgrounds for only able-bodied children continues to happen in Shrewsbury due to ignorance and apathy.

I am calling on the leaders and politicians of Shrewsbury to take a proactive stand to build an accessible playground for all children to participate. If costs are the issue, then sponsor more fundraisers to raise money to pay for a cushion floor. If  not, then shame on you!

Below is the following scenario that will happen with my child:

Scene: It is a nice sunny warm day in September. My son, EJ (age 4 years old) wants to go to the new Paton Playground to play with his friends. We arrive after lunch as EJ sees his friends playing in the park. He sees his friend, Joe, sitting in his wheelchair with a sad face by the playground entrance. Here is the dialogue with his mommie:

EJ: "Mommie, why is Joe not playing in the playground with his friends? He looks sad."

Mommie: "He is not able to participate due to the wood chips on the floor."

EJ: "I don't understand."

Mommie: "The wood chips make it hard for wheelchair users like Joe to move smoothly around in the playground. Unfortunately, the parents who help build this playground did not have enough money to have a soft cushion floor for all children like Joe to play with their friends."

EJ: "Mommie, that's mean!"

Mommie: "Some Parents don't understand and care that a child who is a wheelchair user can't play with their friends. Unless they have a child who is a wheelchair user, they will not be able to understand how these children and their parents feel about this matter."

EJ: "Joe, I will play with you outside of the playground. (EJ calls his other friends to come out of the playground to play with him and Joe)."

Mommie: "Good Boy! I am so proud of you".

All the other children come out of the playground to play with EJ, Joe and his friends.

May more children like EJ take a stand and ask his friends to play with children with mobility impairments outside of the Paton Playground.