My father was a fourth-grade teacher at 66th Street School in Niagara Falls.  In front of the school, there was a swing set – it was new.  The chain links that held the rubber seat of the swing were shiny, as were the metal poles that held the swings in place.  The floor beneath the swings was gravel.  Perfect for swiping my feet when I needed to slow myself to disembark from the swing.  But there was a lot of gravel – so much so that jumping into it, or even falling on it, was fun for the fifth grader I was.  I remember that day when I realized I could swing so high that the chain lost its tension.  And when I realized that I could jump from the swing into the gravel, that was it.   I was a high-flying aerialist – testing myself to see how far from the swing I could land. 

I was by myself that day.  There were no other kids to show my new skills to, and I hoped I’d have the chance after all my practice.  It was 1984 when playgrounds didn’t have the post-recycled, multi-colored look.  They were either metal or pressure-treated wood.  Some were on grass, and others were on pavement.  At the Ferry Avenue Elementary School between 17th Street and 16th Street, the slide and all its climbing parts were placed squarely on a concrete pad.  Such a bad idea.  We’ve come a long way with playgrounds over the past 40 years.

In our evolution of understanding the value of a playground we see them so differently now.  In the physical aspect of child development, what better place is there for climbing, crawling, swinging, spinning, and running on a padded floor with other kids all around you?  Playgrounds are opportunities for communication, which includes laughter.  Laughter is communication – it says, “Hey, look at me; I’m really happy!” Parents and caregiving adults congregate at playgrounds and talk about the important stuff while their kids play.  So, while the sensory diets of children are fed, social capital is being built, ideas are being exchanged, and friendships are being forged for all comers. 

Play spaces are learning spaces when you think about them.  They come in all shapes, types, and sizes. Kids come in all types, shapes, and sizes too, and play spaces must be equipped with varying types of equipment so that kids can enjoy them…all together.  New playground equipment is safer for kids than it has ever been, and along with this, there are equipment and upgrades available so that young people with mobility, visual, sensory, muscular, and other things that make Ferry Avenue downright hazardous can play alongside all their friends. 

When you were young, did you look forward to going to the playground?  That feeling of running from the door of the schoolhouse to be the first one up the slide is something that every kid should experience. Did you run to the playground while other students were left behind, staying in their classroom for one reason or another? 

I’ve watched our world become more and more accessible every year of my life.  These days, you can go to the settings icon on your phone to see what Apple and other companies offer to their customers for accessibility.  Larger fonts, blinking lights, and ways to log in don’t require memorization of six digits, just to name a few. As the Baby Boomer segment of our population ages, there are more ramps…everywhere…not just on corners anymore. Restroom mirrors are angled down.  Handrails are everywhere to prevent falls, bright colored strips on stairs so the edges can be seen, and special seating areas at movie theaters and all sports and entertainment venues.  The list goes on and on.

Do you think that accessible playgrounds provide children with the opportunity to learn outside of the classrooms?  Isn’t this an investment that all communities should make?  An investment in a future where all kids can play together?