Portland's First ADA Inclusive Playground is Now Open!

Mayor Kate Snyder cut the ribbon at the ceremony on Friday.

 On November 6, Portland celebrated the opening of the City’s first ADA inclusive playground at the Talbot (formerly Riverton) Community School.

 As school principal Ann Hanna told the excited crowd, play is important for all children, but those with physical challenges are often left on the sidelines. But not anymore at Talbot School!  All children will now be able to play together on swings, a merry-go-around, and other specially-designed equipment, along with a surface that allows ease of movement by wheelchairs and crutches. School playgrounds in Portland are public parks—so any family can use it!

 Last year, only 5 months after we were founded, the Portland Parks Conservancy committed to helping the City to raise the funds needed to add that special equipment. We are enormously proud that this exceptionally important project was the first accomplishment of our new organization.

 The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation and the Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund of the Maine Community Foundation each made significant grants to help make this dream come true.

photo courtesy of Maine Community Foundation