- 5/19/2013 Shepard designs dream room
- 5/19/2013 Sue Jolly Award will honor student Mock Trial Team member
- 5/19/2013 Anglican Church to host homeless meeting
- 5/19/2013 North Augusta bookings
- 5/19/2013 Suspect sought in theft of Walmart cell phones
- 5/19/2013 STEMfest exposes students to principles of science, technology
- 5/19/2013 North Augusta crime blotter
- 5/19/2013 North Augusta High School hosts 309 student runners
- 5/19/2013 Predators fall to Knights in walk-off fashion
- 5/12/2013 Predators stumble against Knights, face uphill battle
- 5/12/2013 Lady Predators have to win to stay in
- 5/12/2013 Phil Schaefer reflects on North Augusta history
- 5/12/2013 North Augusta golf team’s season ends in Sumter
- 5/12/2013 NAHS grad named SEC Men’s Golf Freshman of the Year
- 5/12/2013 World’s No. 1 disc golfer pays a visit to Hippodrome
- 5/19/2013 Column: Downtown developments: Vacations less and less important
- 5/19/2013 Wrinkles: Recognizing mothers and angels
- 5/19/2013 Phragments from Phyllis: A mother’s a mother for the rest of her life
- 5/19/2013 Letter: Bring the troops home from Afghanistan
- 5/19/2013 Column: New PASS exams intended to benefit student performance
- 5/19/2013 Chaplain's corner: In his hand
- 5/12/2013 Column: The best of both borders
- 5/12/2013 Chaplain’s Corner: A mother’s joy
- 5/12/2013 Downtown developments: Bad customer service, part two
- 5/12/2013 Letter: Riverkeeper is a benefit to North Augustans
Efforts to make playground accessible should be praised
Every child deserves a place to play, regardless of their physical abilities.
That's why the new adaptive playground currently being developed at Riverview Park and the City of North Augusta should be lauded.
The playground is taking shape beyond the outfield of North Augusta High School's softball field. Though it has a particular emphasis on being accessible to the handicapped, it is a facility that can used by every child. It will be the first of its kind in North Augusta.
Adaptive playground equipment includes, but is not limited to, molded swing seats, wheelchair-accessible swing platforms, wheelchair ramps, rocking toys outfitted with harnesses, play panels at ground level, and nonplastic slides which won't affect hearing aids.
The playground will have a rubberized surface, rather than sand, which is more navigable for wheelchairs.
Hopefully, the City of North Augusta will take advantage of several resources available for adaptive playgrounds, like Boundless Playgrounds. It is a nonprofit organization with a vision to create all-inclusive environments where children of all abilities can play together.
The City of Aiken opened a similar all-accessible playground at the Aiken County Library in 2011, which has been enjoyed by loads of children since.
A feature there is a tic-tac-toe board incorporating Braille so children with vision impairments can play.
In play, children do so much more than work off excess energy. Play is refreshing and rejuvenating. Children learn about themselves and their world. Studies show play can help a child development language skills and develop their fine and gross motor skills. It encourages independence, self-esteem, and creativity.
What a wonderful asset it will be to North Augusta to have a playground that lets every child, despite their abilities, take part in the joy of playing.
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