Photo: Shari Small / WBZ NewsRadio
DEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Volunteers and professionals alike were hard at work landscaping a school playground in Dedham on Friday, all to make it accessible to all kids looking to play.
Officials finding the playground near Riverdale Elementary School was not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, banded together to renovate the site and create a more accommodating play area. Part of that crew included Dedham Police officers and former Riverdale principal Ed Paris, who detailed the reworking process.
"We want students of all abilities to be able to play together and have everyone be included in play. There will be rubber surfacing, mulch is just so difficult for folks in wheelchairs and other disabilities, with pieces on it that can played on the side of the structure so not everything is up above. Phase One, which was completed a few months ago, has a ramped structure so students can actually go up in a wheelchair or walker," Paris said.
Work was underway Friday and was set to continue into Saturday.
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WBZ's Shari Small was on the scene and spoke to volunteer Danielle Harrington, who said she found the work fulfilling.
"I didn't think I would feel as excited as I am, but just to see it kind of going up and seeing what I've had my fingers on is just really exciting," Harrington said.
"It's a community build piece— which really does a lot for the community to get together, build a playground, so that way, when I come back and I see students playing on this playground, I know I built that slide over there and I can't wait to see a kid going down it," Paris said.
WBZ's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports.
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