Sen. Fahy, Town of Bethlehem Unveil New ADA-Accessible Playground at North Bethlehem Park
BETHLEHEM, N.Y. – Senator Patricia Fahy (D—Albany), Town of Bethlehem Supervisor David VanLuven, local residents, and town officials gathered to cut the ribbon on the Town of Bethlehem’s newest ADA-accessible playground in North Bethlehem Park, located at 562 Russell Road, Albany, NY 12203. This project was completed with the assistance of a $100,000 CREST grant secured by Senator Patricia Fahy’s office.
Ensuring that children of all abilities and all ages have access to recreational equipment and facilities that are tailored to their needs means that more kids will find time outdoors, with their friends, and enjoy the benefits associated with socializing and recreating at a young age. Despite improvements in policy and awareness across the country, many playgrounds lack ADA-accessible features and represent a major barrier towards inclusion for the 1 in 5 children in the U.S. living with disabilities.
For example, the latest U.S. Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth found that more than 72% of children living with a disability live near a playground, but that those playgrounds are often inaccessible. A 2023 study of parents with children living with a disability also found that 50% of parents surveyed said playgrounds nearest them were inaccessible for their children, illustrating the need to continue building out ADA-accessible and inclusive infrastructure and facilities.
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