Windsor to make parks more accessible for the disabled

By Johnathan Hutton

According to City Council, Windsor parks will be receiving new playgrounds this year.

Council passed on motion Tuesday to allow for the construction of six new accessible parks in Windsor. The parks are to include features such as splash pads, tennis courts, and play structures. Several parks will be themed but all will be accessible for the elderly and disabled.

The playgrounds will be installed in Bridgeview Park, Walker Park, Stodgell Park, Lakeshore Woods Park,  Esdias Park and Avon Court Park.

The planning for the parks has been undertaken by Windsor’s director of parks and recreation, Phil Roberts.

“I am looking forward to modernizing Windsor’s parks to make them accessible for all,” said Roberts. “Right now we are back to request for proposals for five new playgrounds, and it’s getting us closer to this year’s goal of two accessible playgrounds per ward.”

Canadian Safety Agency standards include new rules requiring all Canadian cities to have accessible parks for the handicapped and elderly.

According to Roberts, the new playgrounds will cost approximately $300,000 each.

“We live in 2016 and we have upgraded the equipment at several parks already and I think parks need to be as accessible as possible for everyone in the community to enjoy,” said Fred Francis, Ward One city councilor. “Accessible parks will be a great asset to this community.”

The city plans on removing playgrounds that fail to meet Canada Safety Agency standards and plans on adding new parks to the city throughout the next year. Currently Windsor has 206 parks and City Council said they would eventually like to have 109 parks with accessible playgrounds.