Good news: inclusive playgrounds are on the rise! There are some great inclusive playgrounds in Rhode Island that everyone can enjoy. The newest one opened up recently at Johnston’s War Memorial Park (1583 Hartford Ave). Since October 2023, the town of Johnston has been working on overhauling the park. They closed the playground in April 2024 and then they held its grand reopening on August 7, 2024.
Johnston’s New ADA-Compliant Playground
The original playground equipment remains; it consists of a toddler area, big kid area, and two sets of swings. There is now an expanded area with ADA-compliant equipment and a rubber surface. The addition of ADA-accessible equipment allows children and adults of all abilities to interact and play together.
ADA-Accessible Features
The new ADA-accessible playground features a rubber surface, accessible merry-go-round with two dedicated spots for wheelchairs, see-saw apparatuses, an upper-body stationary cycle, a ground-level sitting spin feature, chimes, xylophone, hand drums, and an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) board. There is also a new set of swings that features an accessible swing for those who need extra physical support.
The new accessible features are a nice add to the already established playground. The discontinuation of the rubber surface and use of mulch on the majority of the playground, however, was not thoroughly thought out. Mulch does not offer full accessibility to those with mobility difficulties or devices who would want to use the swings or explore the play area.
The play areas are enclosed, and there is one functioning gate (the others are chained shut). The addition of the AAC board is a fantastic feature. It opens up communication to all ages and abilities as well as teaches about different forms of communication and how everyone has a voice.
My 4-year-old and I spent a good two hours at this playground and saw plenty of children making use of all the equipment. The upgrades to the playground are nice and great for all ages, but the very large area of mulch is off-putting and may not be easy to navigate with a mobility devices. While access to parts of the playground are limited, it is nice to see more accessibility and inclusion opportunities featured at Johnston’s War Memorial Park. The playground makeover is just a small part of a complete overhaul that is taking place there. A splash pad is planned, which will create even more fun and inclusion for all.
Other Accessible Playgrounds
You can find plenty more accessible playgrounds scattered throughout Rhode Island. Here are just a few to get your next adventure started:
- Portsmouth: Turnpike Ave Playground. 159 Turnpike Ave.
- Providence: Hasbro Boundless™ Playground. Located in the Roger Williams Park Carousel Village.
- Providence: CVS Caremark Boundless Playground. The Marshall Family Park, 1000 Eddy Street.
- Warwick: The imPOSSIBLE DREAM Playground. 575 Centerville Road.
- Wakefield: Matty’s Place. Located at Hazard School on Columbia Street.
- Woonsocket: Globe Park Elementary. 192 Avenue A.
- Wyoming: The Sarah Jane McCullough Handicapped Play Area. 190 Kingstown Road.
- North Providence: Encompass Park.
- Pawtucket: Curvin-McCabe Elementary School.
When you venture out to these amazing inclusive playgrounds, remember that some of them are located at schools and may not be accessible during school hours. We are fortunate to have so many good inclusive playgrounds in Rhode Island! Please leave a comment if you have any favorites to add to the list!
