New McDade playground will be "destination spot," commissioners say
Published: July 6, 2009
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MICHAEL J. MULLEN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lackawanna County workers pour concrete at a new boundless playground in McDade Park. From left, Jamie Rowe, Danny Aniska, Randy Cleary and Peter Corazzi.
County commissioners expect a huge playground rising at McDade Park, designed for equal use by children with disabilities, will make the county-owned park in Scranton a "destination spot" for parents and children.
The inclusive $500,000 playground at McDade is expected to be completed this month, with two other similar but smaller playgrounds to be built next month in Dunmore and the Abingtons. Commissioners hinted more inclusive playgrounds are being discussed for the future, but declined to go into details.
What makes the McDade playground a potential destination is not just its inclusiveness - 40 of the 50 different activities on the playground will be accessible by a wheelchair - but its enormity. The playground is 140 feet in diameter, surrounded in part by a semi-circle rock wall that may be an attraction of its own. From the top of the rock wall to the playground structure will span a wheelchair-accessible bridge, about six feet off the ground, for children to cross.
There will be swings, slides, a tire swing, ropes to climb and metal talking tubes, similar to paper cups separated by string, that let children talk with each other from one end of the playground to the other. A section of the playground will include activities geared toward children with autism.
"You have difficult days in office, but days like this make it worth it," said majority Commissioner Corey O'Brien, as he walked through the partially finished structure. "This is something we've done that will live on with us personally for a very long time."
The commissioners explained giving all children a place to play alongside children with disabilities will help erase any stigma.
"We've made progress in this society, but not fast enough and not far enough," said majority Commissioner Mike Washo, noting he remembers days before there were curb cuts on sidewalks in cities.
But as with all projects, there is a cost. The McDade Park playground is staying within its $500,000 budget, said Bill Davis, deputy director of county parks and recreation, but is a higher cost than a normal playground.
The playgrounds at McHale Park behind the Dunmore Community Center and parkland near the Abington Senior Center will cost $250,000 each. Part of the money will come from a $250,000 grant from revenue generated by Mount Airy Casino Resort in Paradise Twp., which can be spent only on community and economic development of projects of public interest. The rest will come from the county landfill trust fund which, by state law, may be spent only on recreation or environmental projects.
The insurance policy for McDade Park will cover the new playground. McDade has a smaller playground structure already, which Mr. O'Brien said will be moved to Old Forge.
Mr. Davis and the commissioners said the cost is worth it.
"What does a kid with disabilities do during summer? What's there for them to do?" Mr. O'Brien asked. "Thousands of Lackawanna County families can identify with that."
Contact the writer: cschillinger @timesshamrock.com
6 posted comments
I do think this is a good use of grant money.
By the way not everyone living in the Abingtons is "rich".