Miami-Dade becomes boundless

Parks & Recreation, Dec, 2004

A grant for $100,000 was awarded to Miami-Dade Park & Recreation from Health Foundation of South Florida to build its first Boundless Playground[R]. A Boundless Playground is a playground where each play structure is at least 70 percent accessible to children on crutches and in wheelchairs.

With help from the Health Foundation of South Florida, and using the guidelines of the National Center for Boundless Playgrounds, the department hopes to build the first of many Boundless Playgrounds in Miami-Dade County.

The playground, which will be designed and constructed in fiscal year 2005, will have two play areas, one for children ages 2-5 years old and one for children ages 6-12 years old. The playground will be designed to provide appeal to the senses of touch, movement, sight and sound, to enhance each child's unique ability to enjoy challenges at their developmental level. Ramps will be used to allow wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility devices to access upper levels, with maximum attention given to the safety of each child.

"For years, we have been providing our community with programs and ADA-accessible equipment in our parks," says Vivian Donnell Rodriguez, director of Miami-Dade Park & Recreation. "The funding from Health Foundation of South Florida will help us provide the finest playground for disabled children and hopefully serve as a model for other playgrounds planned for construction by municipalities and schools."