District 11 City Council Member Eric Dinowitz, in partnership with BetaNYC, has launched a new mapping tool which shows the level of playground accessibility for residents near their homes and schools. The map was designed to provide an easy way for residents and their families to locate playgrounds that are safe and accessible and to accommodate those with disabilities.

 

The new mapping tool includes detailed information about each playground throughout New York City, including the types of accessible features that are available at each playground. According to the councilman’s office, Dinowitz, a former teacher who represents the Northwest Bronx neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Riverdale, Van Cortlandt Village, Wakefield, and Woodlawn, has been focused on accessibility for people with disabilities through legislation and advocacy.

 

Most recently, as reported, he led the passage of Intro 660, a bill to help ease the transition of accommodations for high school seniors with disabilities to their college or university of choice. As also reported, he has also been involved, along with other advocates, in efforts to bring an elevator to Mosholu Parkway subway station on the Jerome Park / Norwood border.

 

Details about what the various icons denoting accessibility and inclusivity mean are included on the mapping tool. For example, “Limited Wheelchair Access” means a playground offers wheelchair access through the entrance but not to all play elements, whereas “Wheelchair Accessible” means a playground that has ramps or transfer stations or accessible play elements.

 

Meanwhile, a comfort station restroom icon indicates that the playground has a comfort station, whereas a restroom icon with a wheelchair indicates that the comfort station meets the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Inclusive Play Elements” are playgrounds which contain elements designed for children with autism-spectrum disorders or other sensory processing disorders, such as loss of vision or hearing.

 

“In a city where accessibility is often an afterthought, we must make it a priority,” said the councilman, who is running for reelection this year. “This map will allow families to find the playgrounds that meet the needs of their children. It also reveals that some playgrounds in our communities are still not accommodating children with disabilities. This map puts us on a path to accomplishing full accessibility.” Meanwhile, Zhi Keng He, civic innovation lab manager at BetaNYC, said of the new map, “We are excited to partner with Council Member Dinowitz to raise awareness about accessibility and inclusive play elements in our city’s playgrounds.”

 

Keng He added, “Currently, the Parks department does not provide an accessible map with filters for their playgrounds. By creating a map that shows the level of access near their homes or schools, we can take an important step towards ensuring that all New Yorkers with children can find and enjoy public parks that meet their needs. We can also advocate for improvements if nearby parks do not have such elements.”

 

The map reveals that there are still some inaccessible playgrounds in New York City. To create a truly inclusive map, representatives for Dinowitz and BetaNYC said they consulted with people with disabilities to make the map accessible to view as well. Eman Rimawi-Doster, executive director of the Harlem Independent Living Center, said that when he and Dinowitz first met at a City Hall hearing about disability and the arts, and subsequently met again to talk about all things accessibility, he knew the councilman would be a champion for accessibility everywhere. “It’s vitally important to me as a working adult with disabilities that our city is 100 percent accessible for all children with disabilities as well,” Rimawi-Doster said.

 

Meanwhile, Council Member Shekar Krishnan, who represents the 25th City Council district in Queens, and who is chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation said, “From fresh air and exercise to socialization and community, kids, parents, and all New Yorkers with disabilities deserve to enjoy the full benefits of our city’s playgrounds.” He added, “I applaud Council Member Dinowitz and BetaNYC for making it easier for families to find accessible playgrounds near them, and I hope this map will serve as a call to action to make all of our parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers fully accessible.”

 

In other playground news, in July 2022, as reported, Wakefield Playground, located on Matilda Avenue in Wakefield, was reopened after a $5.2 million renovation, including two basketball courts, a soccer field and spray showers. Also in early 2022, the playground on the site of Tracey Towers housing complex in Jerome Park reopened after it was temporarily shut for a duration following a wall collapse.

 

In 2021, friends and family members of the late EMIT, Yadira Arroyo, were joined by community members and elected officials to officially rename Blackrock Playground, located in the Unionport section of The Bronx, in honor of the late FDNY emergency medical technician after she was killed in the line of duty when struck while attempting to stop her ambulance from being stolen during an emergency response in Unionport on March 16, 2017.

 

In December 2020, Norwood News also reported on then-new murals which were added to Mosholu Playground in Bedford Park, while there were also disturbing reports of shootings at a playground in Morris Heights and at Olinville playground. In 2020, we also reported on the reopening of Kossuth Playground following a $3.8 million upgrade.

 

In March of 2022, a brush fire broke out at Whalen playground in Norwood, as reported, and in February 2022, Norwood News reported on a second incident of hateful graffiti displayed at a playground in Spuyten Duyvil. Meanwhile, last year in September 2022, as reported, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Parks and NYCHA announced that plans were afoot to build new open spaces and playgrounds at various NYCHA housing developments.

 

The new map of accessible playgrounds can be accessed here.

 

For more information on in-person and online activities and support for parents of children and young people with disabilities, visit includenyc.org/events. INCLUDEnyc fosters positive futures and enhances the quality of life for young people with any disability from birth to age 26 and their families in New York City. The organization promotes access to educational, employment, and independent living opportunities for young people, and advocate with families for meaningful inclusion in the broader community. Share your experiences, struggles, and successes as parents of children with disabilities.