Barton Parks new playground is made to be accessible

Anaheim s latest playground offers fun to children who might not be able to get as much use out of the city s other parks. Built recently by volunteers, the playground at Barton Park has play equipment that is accessible to children with disabilities. Children who use wheelchairs can spin around on a merry-go-round type feature that can use straps to hold them in place. The Teeter TXinnel has equipment that will help a child transfer safely out of a chair and onto the teeter-totter. There are also accessible swings, and for children with vision impairments there are Braille panels throughout the playground, officials said. Most city parks have something that is accessible to children with disabilities, city spokeswoman Erin Ryan said, but Barton Park is the first to have integrated ramp access and a playground fully designed for use. The playground was sponsored by the Disneyland Resort through the national Kaboom! Program, which organizes community build projects across the country. Anaheim Fnd the city helped out. Disneyland s CastABLE diversity resource group pitched the idea of an accessible playground and offered expertise, officials said. Children from the surrounding neighborhood also helped with suggestions for the design. Before the army of volunteers descended to build the playground in a matter of hours, the park was just one big grassy field, Ryan said. In the next year, the city will be adding walking paths, picnic areas and sports fields. The work is expected to be done by next spring, she