March 3, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY – Council Member Eric Dinowitz, in partnership with BetaNYC, has debuted a map of the level of playground accessibility near their homes and schools. The map was designed to provide an easy way to locate playgrounds that accommodate those with disabilities. It includes detailed information about each playground throughout New York City, including the types of accessible features that are available.
Council Member Dinowitz has been focused on accessibility for people with disabilities through legislation and advocacy, most recently with the passage of Intro 660, a bill to help ease the transition of accommodations for high school seniors with disabilities to their college or university of choice. “In a city where accessibility is often an afterthought, we must make it a priority,” says Council Member Dinozwitz. “This map will allow families to find the playgrounds that meet the needs of their children. It also reveals that some playgrounds in our communities are still not accommodating children with disabilities. This map puts us on a path to accomplishing full accessibility.”
The map was created in collaboration with the Council Member and BetaNYC, a civic organization dedicated to improving lives in New York through civic design, technology, and data. It was created as a resource for those with disabilities and their families to help them find playgrounds that are safe and accessible.
“We are excited to partner with Council Member Dinowitz to raise awareness about accessibility and inclusive play elements in our city’s playgrounds,” says Zhi Keng He, Civic Innovation Lab Manager at BetaNYC. “Currently, the Parks Department does not provide an accessible map with filters for their playgrounds. By creating a map that shows the level of access near their homes or schools, we can take an important step towards ensuring that all New Yorkers with children can find and enjoy public parks that meet their needs. We can also advocate for improvements if nearby parks do not have such elements.”
The map reveals that there are still inaccessible playgrounds in the city. To create a truly inclusive map, the initiative consulted with people with disabilities to make our map accessible to view as well.
“When Council Member Dinowitz and I first met at a City Hall hearing about disability and the arts, and subsequently met after to talk about all things accessibility, I knew that he would be a champion for accessibility everywhere,” says Eman Rimawi-Doster, Executive Director of the Harlem Independent Living Center. “It’s vitally important to me as a working adult with disabilities that our city is 100% accessible for all children with disabilities as well.”
“From fresh air and exercise to socialization and community, kids, parents, and all New Yorkers with disabilities deserve to enjoy the full benefits of our city’s playgrounds,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation. “I applaud Council Member Dinowitz and BetaNYC for making it easier for families to find accessible playgrounds near them, and I hope this map will serve as a call to action to make all of our parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers fully accessible.”
The map is available at https://betanyc.github.io/playground-map/