New Castle To Start Building Inclusive Playground

From New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein

The Town of New Castle and their Recreation & Parks Department invite you to the groundbreaking of its first inclusive playground & lighted basketball court on Tuesday, November 26, 6:00pm, New Castle Town Hall, 200 South Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua, NY 10514.

This playground will feature ramps, swings and slides that will allow children of all abilities to enjoy the playground. The playground will allow kids with mobility disabilities and wheelchairs to join in the fun. This is New Castle’s first inclusive playground. The 84-by-50-foot basketball court will be located in the back corner of the lot near Recreation Field. The town plans on using the basketball court for pickleball as well.

New Castle’s EPIC Ambassadors will do the groundbreaking. New Castle’s EPIC Ambassadors are kids, teens and adults with special needs who live in New Castle & who volunteer their time to be our advocates for inclusion. They work alongside New Castle’s Every Person is Connected (EPIC) Committee who work to promote inclusion within our community no matter what our neighbor's ability or disability.

“The Recreation Commission along with the Recreation and Parks Department is excited that the project is underway and looking forward to the many programming opportunities of the new basketball court and the addition of a new all-inclusive playground," said Alfred ‘Ike” Kuzio, Superintendent of Recreation & Parks.

"New Castle is committed to providing recreational opportunities to all of our residents no matter what they enjoy or their skill levels and abilities. The inclusive playground and basketball court, as well as our recently announced Millwood Park upgrades, are testaments to this vision. It’s with great pride that I thank our hard working staff and volunteers for their efforts and Assemblyman David Buchwald for securing a $125,000 SAM Grant to turn our collaboration into reality," said Jeremy Saland, New Castle Town Board Member & liaison to the New Castle Recreation Commission.

“This playground will allow kids of all ages and all abilities to play & have a good time together. Since 1999 the Town has been researching an appropriate location for a lighted full court basketball court in downtown Chappaqua. Thank you Jay Shapiro for suggesting this location. I would also like to thank both former Senator Terrence Murphy and NYS Assemblyman David Buchwald for their help funding these projects," said Rob Greenstein, New Castle Town
Supervisor.