Dearborn opens second inclusive playscape

 

By SUE SUCHYTA

Times-Herald Newspapers

DEARBORN – The city opened a grant-funded, inclusive playscape April 24 at Ford Woods, the second of its kind in the city.

Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said families often have children with varying needs, and it is important to have playscapes across the city that are accessible to all, and that distance is not an obstacle so that all their children can play together.

He said that with the completion of the third inclusive playscape in Lapeer Park in the South End this summer, every family in Dearborn will be within a 10-minute drive of an inclusive playscape.

Crowley Park on the west side of the city was the first park in Dearborn to receive an accessible playscape.

Hammoud said that in addition to ramps, the swings, soft ground cover, the sensory and communication boards, the wheelchair accessible merry-go-round and adaptable seesaws are all part of the inclusive playscape.

He said the nearby park restrooms are also being upgraded to be accessible to people with disabilities, and there is a walkway from the parking lot to the playscape to make it easier to access.

Hammoud said the fence around the playscape provides peace of mind for parents of special needs children who might be prone to wander off.

“This was all grant funded,” he said. “A park, like this, costs about $1.5 million.”

Hammoud said the playscapes are part of the $30 million PEACE Project proposal, which utilized $10 million each from Wayne County, the state and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

“I’m excited,” he said. “My girls are out there playing already, and I’m going to go play with them.”

 

City Councilmember Kamal Alsawafy said Dearborn families have wanted a playscape that kids with different abilities can access that is in the city.

“Sometimes a family will have one child who is differently-abled and they can’t enjoy a park with their siblings,” he said.

Alsawafy said accessible playscapes stimulate the city economically by attracting visitors from outside the city.

He said past playscapes were in the middle of a grassy area and surrounded by woodchips, which were difficult to traverse with a child in a wheelchair.

Resident Ali Bazzi, who has a child who is differently-abled, said that in the past for all his children to enjoy a playscape together, they would have to go outside of the city.

“It was very important to us to have something here in the city,” he said. “It allows families of all abilities to be able to play.”

Mike Esseily, executive director of special populations for the Dearborn Public Schools, said it takes a village mentality to support families with special needs members.

“We understand what our role is and how we can support our community and our students, but we also wanted the entire Dearborn community to be supportive, and the more opportunities we can provide for our families, the more inclusive they can feel,” he said.

Esseily said they want to make sure every individual and family in Dearborn, regardless of limitations, is treated with respect and have access to facilities to enjoy together.

Mona Alaouie, co-founder of Dearborn-based Blue Hands United, a non-profit designed to help families affected by autism, said the inclusive playscape was amazing and long overdue.

“Not only did Dearborn come through with one inclusive park, it came through with three,” she said. “When the announcement came that every family’s going to be within 10 minutes of an accessible and inclusive playscape, families all over the community felt heard and visible.”

She said the inclusive playscape allows all children to have fun together.

Ford Woods Park is located northeast of the Ford and Greenfield roads intersection, with the parking lot accessible from the westbound Ford Road exit ramp to Greenfield.