The Importance of Accessible Playgrounds

by Jared Wayland

The Importance of Accessible Playgrounds

In my opinion, St. Catharines is a city that for the most part, embraces inclusivity - which can be seen in its commitment to creating accessible parks and playgrounds. These outdoor spaces are carefully designed to prioritize accessibility, ensuring that they are enjoyable and welcoming for everyone of all ages and abilities.
In this blog post, I’ll give a quick overview of some of these parks and playgrounds. These highlighted spots not only offer a place to enjoy nature but also showcase the city's dedication to providing an inclusive play environment. Not only are these spaces important for children who need to use the accessible playground, but also for disabled parents like myself, so that they can play with their children at the park without any barriers.
Jaycee Gardens Park (or as I used to call it as a child, “The Rowers Park”, since you could watch people row on the Henley course) is located in the heart of St. Catharines. It is a great example of an accessible playground. The park features ramps, adaptive swings, and cushioned rubber ground surfaces, creating a safe and enjoyable space where children and adults of all abilities can play together. There are also plenty of well-maintained paths and walkways, which I believe are all wheelchair accessible. From this park, it’s a quick walk or roll over to Port Dalhousie where you can explore even more!
One of our favourite playgrounds/parks is at Happy Rolph's Animal Farm, a beloved destination of Niagara children for many years. Happy Rolph’s offers a picturesque setting right on Lake Ontario for outdoor enjoyment. Aside from a small animal farm with donkeys, pigs, cows and more and a beautiful path down by the Lake, Happy Rolph’s also has our favourite play structure in the city. With many accessibility features such as ramps, adaptive swings and sensory activities, this playground really checks all the boxes. It is also built on a smooth rubber surface which is fully accessible. It features a replica John Deere tractor as well, which is sure to capture any child’s attention. I love going to Happy Rolph’s with my son because I can be involved in every aspect of his day’s adventure at the park!
These accessible parks and playgrounds are super important to have in all neighbourhoods. They promote social inclusion by bringing together children and adults of diverse abilities, which in turn promotes understanding and appreciation of all kinds of differences. Also, it’s proven that being outdoors enhances a person’s physical and mental well-being! Offering a safe space like these parks in all neighbourhoods is essential for children's development, whether they are able-bodied or not. For disabled parents like myself, these spaces enable us to enjoy watching our children play without facing accessibility challenges, which is one less stress to worry about!
Accessible parks and playgrounds epitomize inclusivity and community spirit in St. Catharines. The city's dedication to providing these spaces, such as Happy Rolph's and Montebello Park Playground, showcases its commitment to creating an environment where every individual, regardless of ability, can thrive and experience the joys of outdoor play. While there is still a lot of work to do throughout the city in terms of accessibility at parks, we have made a good start! Let's continue to support and cherish these inclusive spaces, and push for even more throughout the city (and everywhere else)!