Accessibility
The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation strives to help ALL New Yorkers discover how New York City's about 29,000 acres of parks can enrich their lives, promoting physical and emotional well-being, and providing venues for fitness and peaceful respite for the widest possible audience.
The Parks Department's goal is to go beyond mere compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide access, as well as increased opportunities for recreation and participation, by improving Parks processes and through strategic partnerships. Parks is currently hard at work on an agency-wide transition plan to make all aspects of the Parks Department more accessible and has put together an ADA Committee to offer guidance on accessibility issues throughout in City parks.
Accessibility-related Events
Adaptive Rowing at Row New York
In the summer of 2010, Row New York officially launched an Adaptive Rowing Program. Four organizations signed on to bring their participants to row with us and we had 40 people with disabilities on the water. The Fall program's open house event will be taking place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Download the Adaptive Rowing flyer (PDF,71 KB)
Afterschool Program for Deaf or Hearing-Impaired Children
The Parks Afterschool Program offers a structured and safe environment for children ages 6 to 13 to grow through homework help, fitness activities, arts and cultural activities and more. Starting this fall, Al Oerter Recreation Center will provide necessary equipment and highly trained staff to serve children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Please call Cindy Caruso, the Citywide Afterschool Coordinator, for more information, at (212) 360-3309.
Learn More about the Afterschool Program (PDF, 295 KB)
Kids Explore Their Senses at Playground for All Children
Each week, dozens of young students come to the Sensory Garden at the Playground For All Children to stimulate their five senses. Gardener and educator Han-Yu Hung meets with students and their teachers
and conducts hands-on gardening activities that leave everyone with a new appreciation for the natural world.
Learn more about this event in the Pelham Park-ticulars (PDF, 2 MB).
