City Officials and Kids Unite to Open Portsmouth’s New ADA-Compliant, Inclusive Playground
PORTSMOUTH—A dozen children, City officials and the project team gathered at the newly-imagined and fully accessible South Mill Pond Playground to cut the ribbon and officially open the playground, which is already enjoying steady use.
Recreation Director Todd Henley and Assistant Director Brinn Sullivan recognized Mayor Deaglan McEachern, Assistant Major Joanna Kelley-Adams, Councilors Rich Blalock and John Tabor, City Manager Karen Conard and the team of Chris Martin from playground designer Ulti-Play Parks & Playgrounds, City Parks & Greenery foreman Corin Hallowell, DPW Director Peter Rice and Access Navigators' Todd Hanson.
Begun in September, this project replaced the existing South Mill playground with a new, universal design, ADA-compliant, age-friendly, inclusive playground.
The goal was to convert South Mill Pond Playground into the most utilized, dynamic, barrier-free destination playground for Portsmouth and its visitors and the gold standard for Universally Accessible and Inclusive playgrounds.
As McEachern noted as he gathered several of the children to cut the ribbon, "When the Council considered the budget for this playground we wanted to make sure everyone had the opportunity to play here, not to be left out."
Recreation Director Todd Henley and Assistant Director Brinn Sullivan recognized Mayor Deaglan McEachern, Assistant Major Joanna Kelley-Adams, Councilors Rich Blalock and John Tabor, City Manager Karen Conard and the team of Chris Martin from playground designer Ulti-Play Parks & Playgrounds, City Parks & Greenery foreman Corin Hallowell, DPW Director Peter Rice and Access Navigators' Todd Hanson.
Begun in September, this project replaced the existing South Mill playground with a new, universal design, ADA-compliant, age-friendly, inclusive playground.
The goal was to convert South Mill Pond Playground into the most utilized, dynamic, barrier-free destination playground for Portsmouth and its visitors and the gold standard for Universally Accessible and Inclusive playgrounds.
As McEachern noted as he gathered several of the children to cut the ribbon, "When the Council considered the budget for this playground we wanted to make sure everyone had the opportunity to play here, not to be left out."
