Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz today joined Commissioner of Parks, Recreation & Forestry Troy P. Schinzel at Como Lake Park in Lancaster to review the recently-completed, Inclusive Playground that has been added to the Park. In addition to being fully accessible and inviting to people with disabilities, especially parents with disabilities, inclusive playgrounds are a resource for grandparents and aging caregivers who want to interact with the children in their care. Their universal design permits all children to play together, including kids with disabilities, and has a wide range of play features to accommodate children’s interests.

“This playground space is welcoming to children of all ages and abilities, enabling all to play together and enjoy their experience,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “We are in the process of installing similar playgrounds in all of our Heritage Parks, part of an investment of over $3.5 million, and I’m looking forward to opening them during the upcoming weeks.”

Features of the Como Lake Park playground include a We-Go-Round Spinner, designed so that children using wheeled mobility devices can wheel right in and enjoy the merry-go-round experience; the Cozy Dome, a unique climber with round openings for hand and for placement for climbing and letting children “hide” inside; a Rollerslide that provides a tactile and auditory experience while children slide, and is wide enough for children to slide down together, and Molded Bucket Swing Seats that provide additional support for children who might need additional trunk support while they swing. Reach Panels, a Cooltopper Single Post Shade, and a ramp have also been added to the Playground.

Parks Commissioner Troy P. Schinzel added, “We continue to improve our Parks countywide and are proud to now have two Inclusive Playgrounds at Chestnut Ridge Park as well as ones at Akron Falls, Ellicott Creek, Emery, and here at Como Lake Park. We are also planning one at Isle View Park and one for a future location, always with a focus on inclusion and accessibility as a high priority from the planning stages through construction.”

    For more information:

    On the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry visit  https://www3.erie.gov/parks/   

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