ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. —A day at the playground is something every child should get to enjoy. And now that dream is becoming a reality for many with A Playground for All in Orchard Park. On Sunday, volunteers continued their second day of work on the first completely inclusive playground in Erie County, meaning children of all abilities can utilize the space and equipment.

While many playgrounds in Western New York are ADA compliant, most of them lack equipment that can be utilized by children with diverse needs and abilities. Jill Jordan is a volunteer and the mother of a nine-year-old with cerebral palsy who utilizes a wheelchair. For her family, the playground means little Easton can experience the fun that every child should have access to.

What You Need To Know

  • A Playground for All in Chestnut Ridge Park will accommodate children of all abilities

  • This will be the first playground in Erie County to have an all-inclusive and accessible environment and equipment

  • The playground will also feature a sensory walk for children to interact with their environment in different ways

  • There are plans to bring more all-inclusive playgrounds to different heritage parks in Erie County

“There are very few options in terms of playgrounds in our area, especially in the south towns," Jordan said. "So it’s really exciting to have this in our backyard where he can play with his friends and everybody’s part of the fun.”

The playground will also feature a sensory walk with fragrant plants and interactive chimes to hear and feel vibrations from, so that all children can fully experience the world around them. As opposed to the mulch or sand found at most playgrounds, the one here at Chestnut Ridge Park will feature surfacing materials of poured in-place rubber to aid in ease of access. These are just some of the features that help to make everyone feel truly welcomed.

“It should really be a celebration for our community, for all kids because all kids can play together," Jordan said. "It’s not only accessible, meaning that the ground surface is flat so that all kids can access it. But it’s also inclusive, meaning that there is equipment that kids can get onto with adaptive devices, so walkers and wheel chairs.”

For many of the volunteers, including Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, having a literal hand in bringing the playground to life means making an impact on the community for generations to come.

“I enjoy getting out and actually helping and knowing that when I drive by this many years from now, I’ll be able to say, I worked on that apparatus; I put up that piece of equipment," Poloncarz said. "It gives you a good feeling in your heart knowing that kids in the next few years, in the next twenty years from now are going to be able to enjoy this incredible playground, kids who could not have enjoyed a playground before because of their ability levels.”

Looking ahead, residents of Erie County can expect to see greater accessibility in more parks and playgrounds across Western New York in the future. While these spaces may not be as large as the one in Chestnut Ridge Park, according to Poloncarz, they will bring a more inclusive way to play all the same.

“We’re putting money aside, $400,000 for each park to put an inclusive park in four other locations, and that’s not going to be built this year,” he said. “But coming soon in the next few years you should see something similar in some of our other heritage parks across Erie County.”