Stow, Cuyahoga, Akron, Copley making playgrounds, fitness accessible

Four-year-old Nyana Hensal loves to be pushed on the swings.

But during a recent visit to SOAR (Stow Outdoor Accessible Recreation) Boundless Playground, Nyana had to forgo the swings after her mother discovered they didn't have straps. Nyana, who has cerebral palsy, needs the feature to stay upright.

"Maybe kids ripped the straps off," Nyana's mother, Hayley Hensal, speculated.

Even though there still are some obstacles, Hensal said she is encouraged that Stow and other communities are taking steps to make their playgrounds and recreational facilities more accessible for people of all abilities.

Stow Kids' Playground, also known as SKiP, is slated to reopen this summer with equipment that will offer more play options for all children. This will allow Nyana to play alongside her three foster siblings.

"I was looking at the pictures, and it seems like there's a lot to do," Hensal said.

Several other area communities, including Akron, Copley and Cuyahoga Falls, also have made changes or are in the process of renovating their playgrounds and recreational facilities so everyone can enjoy them.

Millions of Americans can benefit from efforts to make public playgrounds and recreation areas more inclusive.

According to the U.S. census, about 2.6 million households in 2019 had at least one child with a disability. This is 7.2% of the 36.7 million households with children younger than 18.

In addition, 1 in 4 U.S. adults has a disability, according to the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD). The nonprofit group based at the University of Alabama provides information on physical activity and health promotion for people of all ages with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities.

Under the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design, newly designed, constructed and altered public play areas must adhere to enforceable accessibility requirements, according to NCHPAD. These requirements include providing at least one accessible route to each play component in a play area. Although a playground may meet the guidelines, it does not necessarily mean that all children will be able to use the playground.

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The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, but some public facilities may still have barriers to access, according to NCHPAD. Parking, curb cuts, restrooms, pathways to and inside the facility and the structure of common areas can impact the ability for some to use a particular amenity.

Sharon Connor has seen these obstacles firsthand.

Connor, the Ward 10 representative on Akron City Council, was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair to get around.

Park trails that are dirt or gravel and grassy areas can pose issues. A newer walking path was inaccessible to Connor because the pathway was too soft.

"Gravel is definitely not my friend," she said. "Gravel is one of the hardest surfaces to push a wheelchair on."

Connor has worked with Residents Improving Goodyear Heights Together to improve the recreational areas around the Goodyear Heights neighborhood, including making them easier to access. Improvements have included paved, wheelchair-friendly paths with benches, swings that can be used by young children who use a wheelchair and features such as a large maze where kids put marbles through a plastic path.

In addition, there are efforts underway to make the city's outdoor pools fully accessible, Connor said. The pool at Perkins Park is being renovated this year, and the pool at Reservoir Park will undergo renovations next year.

Copley Township Administrator Janice Marshall said the township received an anonymous donation that paid for two swings, compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, at the playground at Copley Community Park. One swing is suited for ages 2 through 5 and the other for ages 5 through 12.

In addition, township officials recently marked the opening of a new outdoor adult fitness area at the entrance of Copley Community Park, Marshall said.

"This facility fulfills our commitment to the Village of St. Edward to use the land they donated in a way that would enhance the lives of all adults, including seniors," Marshall said.

This fitness area was paid for through the Community Development Block Grant program, Marshall said. The facility has 12 different machines.

Cuyahoga Falls officials are in the process of improving accessibility at the Natatorium, Quirk Cultural Center and Harrington Park, paid for with federal dollars through community development block grants.

Planned improvements include:

The Stow Kids' Playground, which is near the City Center, was rebuilt and includes all-new equipment. The original wooden playground was torn down in 2018 because of safety concerns.

The newly renovated playground, which will officially open July 2, will include features for all ages, including sensory panels, musical instruments, a sand pit, a ninja warrior course, spinning equipment and various types of swings. The playground will feature an Inclusive Whirl, a platform where a wheelchair or stroller can be placed and then spun around. Those who use mobility devices can use this equipment with that device. There also will be a zip line included with the playground, as well as a section for toddlers and preschoolers.

The cost of the new playground is around $550,000.

The festivities start at 1 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m.

Stow also has its Stow Accessible Outdoor Recreation Playground in Silver Springs Park. The park includes paved walkways, with soft padding around the equipment itself. Gently sloping ramps lead children to the various features on the playground, which is geared more to younger children. Along with slides and swings, there are an interactive marble feature, percussive-style instruments and balance features.

Hensal said she appreciates the ramps, which make the play area accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, but some of the features are too low for Nyana to use.

Another issue Hensal said she frequently encounters while she is out with her family is a lack of handicapped parking spaces, especially those that allow vans with a lift to raise and lower a wheelchair.

"That is a struggle no matter where we go," she said. "Here, we have some spots. But sometimes those spots are taken, and some kids can't even get out of the vehicle without those spots."

Hensal said a project that's underway to pave walkways to the city's soccer fields will make life easier for those with physical limitations.

"Parents whose children have mobility devices struggle to get to the fields," she said.

In all, Hensal said she is pleased Stow is making the effort to make the city's amenities more inclusive.

"There is still a ways to go," she said, "but efforts done now are still a step forward."

Reporter April Helms can be reached at [email protected]