New Highview Playground to Surpass ADA Requirements

When the first Highview playground was built in 1990, it was very limited in incorporating activities for all children of all abilities. However, 21 years later, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has changed a lot in what is required in playgrounds. The Highview Community playground design committee plans to surpass the minimum ADA requirements.

"In the old park I could not have my special needs son on the adaptive swing and be able to see my other children while playing in the park,” said Nancy MacRobbie, Nanuet mother and chair of the volunteer committee for the Highview Playground Project. “Before, the playground design made it difficult for a family to incorporate the needs of all their children and keep them safely insight.  Now the new playground will embrace the needs of children of all abilities and allow families to play together at the same time. This park also offers many components that will be fun and accessible to all children.”

In the new playground there will be:

• Accessible paths throughout the entire playground
• Musical instruments section
• Two therapeutic swings (one in the tot lot and one in the school-age kids area)
• Picnic table that is wheelchair accessible
• Activities Panel with sensory items

“We are limiting the number of patterns in the playground for children on the autistic spectrum and musical instruments are in a centrally located part of the playground for use by children of all ages,” said Krista Vasti, design committee chair. “We are including sensory items in the space. In addition to these things, there are therapeutic swings in our design. The play structures both in the tot lot (ages 2-5) and school age (ages 5-12) areas will have transfer points for children of different abilities to be able to access them.”

“Our Special Needs group explored options, consulted with experts and tweaked those ideas with Leathers & Associates (the design company) in hopes of being truly a diverse playground,” said CJ, Vice President of the Playground Steering Committee.

Councilman George Hoehmann is on the steering and fundraising committee. As the new director of Rockland Independent Living Center, he has staff members who have surveyed the site.

“The task of the RILC is to help remove barriers and promote full inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in the community,” said Hoehmann. “Three staff members from RILC—one with a visual impairment and another in a wheelchair—visited the site.”

RILC Staff Peter Stirpe, who is a special education teacher and advocate, researched swings and musical instruments.

“The perspectives from persons with disabilities and experience as an educator gave important input. The playground plans were modified to reflect the changes suggested which include therapeutic swings and better accessibility through the removal of a barrier near the tot lot,” said Hoehmann.

“Moreover, the musical instruments and panels will allow children with special needs, autism and physical impairments to effectively use the playground. It is a win-win for everyone. The playground will be very accessible and user friendly because we received not just input from the children but from people with physical impairments who gave the committee insight into things to avoid and things to accomplish to make this a park that will serve children of all abilities.  I was delighted to be a part of the process and grateful that that the RILC staff gave such time and effort to helping the committee.”

Peter Groos is the Director of the Independent Living Services Unit at RILC and himself is in a wheelchair. Stirpe, Groos and Joel Taveras—who is legally blind—reviewed the plans, toured the site, did research and made suggestions that were accepted by the committee.

“The changes make the design even better and more functional for persons with disabilities,” said Hoehmann