PLAYGROUNDS FOR ALL...ARE COMING!
It’s a great feeling to be included. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, we hope to see more and more accessible playgrounds meant for everyone - young and old - to have fun, interact and experience the freedom of learning and play. Playgrounds will cater to people of all ages with sensory, physical and psychological needs, as well as the needs of their friends, parents and caregivers. They will break down barriers so all children can play together. Here are some great playgrounds with universal access, some with ground-level play features, ramped play equipment, as well as other accessible equipment. Although not all are classified as Playgrounds for All, the ongoing programs to comply with access requirements and safety standards will soon lead to more special needs-friendly playgrounds in the foreseeable future.
SPECIAL NEEDS PLAYGROUND
16th Street, Bayonne (Hudson County)
Dedicated area to families that have children with
special needs.” Features special swings which encase
and protect the children. Wheelchair accessible “Beat
Club” musical activities featuring plastic drums, “talk
tubes”, “music time”, “babble flowers”, “Tot bongos” and
“Thunder Ring”, with one slide, and climbing on either
side. Game boards along the structure.
MORRIS-UNION JOINTURE PLAYGROUND
360 Central Ave, New Providence (Union County)
Open for use by the public on weekends and after 6pm weekdays. Playground, specially designed for children with special needs, features swings with high sides, platform swing, basketball court, enclosed slides, reduced-height climbing bars, cushioned with a 15-inch carpet of wood chips. Located adjacent to the Developmental Learning Center (DLC).
CENTRAL PARK OF MORRIS COUNTY
91 Central Ave., Morris Plains (Morris County)
Morris County Park Commission’s first fully accessible
outdoor athletic facility. The playground offers kids
swings, slides, music stand, and crawl tunnels, and accessible
to children in wheelchairs and was specifically designed so that they can play alongside their friends
and siblings. The complex includes two regulationsize
in-line skating rinks, a fully accessible Challenger
League ball field, sand volleyball courts, softball field,
artificial turf fields, a 5K cross-country course, 5-acre
dog park, natural amphitheater, disc golf course, and
1.1 miles of paved and natural trails.
CHALLENGER PLACE
Dorbrook Recreation Area
209 Rt. 537E, Colts Neck. (Monmouth County)
A Playground for Children of All Abilities with universally
accessible play facility including elevated surfaces,
Braille signs and three play structures with areas where
children of varied abilities can play together. First
universally integrated playground in NJ. Adjacent is the
sprayground. “Spray and Play” is an offering for camps
and other groups serving individuals with disabilities.
535 acre park also offers tennis courts, in-line rink,
basketball courts and 2 miles of paved walking trails.
EDGEMONT PARK ALL CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND
20 Edgemont Rd. Montclair (Essex County)
Full playground offers universal access for children of
all ages and abilities. Rubber ground cover, spider web
structure, and slides; one of the biggest playgrounds in
the area.
MEMORIAL PARK
713 Cumberland St., Westfield (Union County)
Built by Greg Ryan, Jr. in 2004 for his Boy Scout Eagle
Project, the wheelchair-accessible playground includes
a sidewalk from the parking lot to a ramped playground
structure with rubber surfacing, two infant, two regular
and four special needs swings, one accessible picnic
table and four benches.
PHIL RIZZUTO PARK
594 Morris & North Aves, Union (Union County)
A10.4-acre recreational area features a fully accessible
boundless playground for children of all physical
abilities. The park is decorated with baseball themes, a
baseball-style seating area, gazebo with stadium-theme
overhead, and granite dedication monument. Other attractions
include a spray pool, pedestrian bridge, soccer
field and para-course fitness stations. Across from Kean
University.
RAINBOWLAND PLAYGROUND
Midland School
94 Readington Rd., North Branch (Somerset County)
Fully handicapped accessible playground for student
and com munity use, featuring sandbox and planter,
mock post office and bank, large tire toy, small theater,
wheelchair slider, slides, swings and numerous other
sensory-motor activities.
TONY’S PLACE
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
221 Ocean Ave. N, Long Branch. (Monmouth County)
Seaside-themed. This completed play facility includes
elevated surfaces that are accessible to those in wheelchairs,
Braille signs for the visually impaired, and areas
where children of varied abilities can play together in fun
and stimulating activities. Concession stand, restrooms,
changing facilities and the beach is right here.
VAN SAUN PARK
216 Forest Ave, Paramus (Bergen County)
One of the largest playgrounds in the area with 4 different
structures and multiple-age play areas. Features
an inclusive playground with handicap accessibility.
Ramps, bridges, tunnels, slides, and playthings, sprinkler,
picnic areas. Visit the zoo, carousel, and splash pad
sprayground.
VOTEE PARK
1097-1235 Palisade Ave Teaneck (Bergen County).
Wheelchair accessible construction, designed for children
ages 2-12, is surrounded by a fence and consists
of supportive swings, hanging bars and slides on a
rubber surface. Located at the northern end of the park.
This completely developed park also features in ground
swimming pool, children’s wading pool, rest rooms, amphitheater,
soccer fields, baseball fields, tennis courts, 2
paved 1.1 mile or 1/3 mile walking paths.
MONMOUTH COURT PLAYGROUND, LIVINGSTON
26 Monmouth Court, Livingston
Brand new playground with a completely enclosed
fenced in area equipped with a rubber-surface. This is a
handicap accessible playground that features a shaded
play area for toddlers, swingsets for all ability levels, and
play equipment for ages 8 and under. Used to be the
old Little Sports Court Playground)
KNOLL PARK
Knoll Rd, Lake Hiawatha (Morris County)
2 playground areas within the park, designed specifically
for handicapped children. Featuring 2 wheelchair
swings, and much of the main play equipment is wheelchair
accessible via ramp. Rock walls, ramps mushroom
caps, bars, handles, corkscrew pole, stairs and ladders,
lots of puzzles, toddler tunnel. Walking path into the
woods, plus picnic area. (In the Knoll Country Club)
MARLTON MEMORIAL PARK & SPORTS COMPLEX
1040 Tuckerton Road, Marlton (Burlington County)
Argh, mateys! This park has a treasure island theme
complete with a pirate ship to climb through and a map
to find treasure. The park is handicapped-accessible,
and has two-story-high tube slides, a rock-climbing wall,
spinners, swings and more. Next door is sports complex.
JAKE’S PLACE – A BOUNDLESS PLAYGROUND
Challenge Grove Park, Cherry Hill (Camden County)
A Boundless Playground, first one in South Jersey,
providing all equal play. The ramps are strong enough
and wide enough to accommodate disabled adults so
that they too can play with their kids. All equipment
has ramps. The slides have enough room at the top to
transfer children from a wheelchair. Lower monkey bars
and rock-climbing walls that most kids can climb, and
the Sway-Fun, built so two to three kids in a wheelchair
can use it.
MARY DUFFY MEMORIAL PARK
Clayton and Corkery Lanes, Williamstown (Gloucester County)
Handicapped accessible playground. Separate areas for ages 2 to 5 and 5+.
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