DEAR EDITOR:

In my community, I have noticed the lack of handicap-accessible playground equipment for children in both the Austintown Local School District and at Austintown Park. The closest all-inclusive park is located in Canfield, which is approximately 15 minutes away from Austintown. And while you might be thinking “15 minutes is not a far drive,” to a parent of a handicapped child, this seemingly short drive can feel like a journey.

My experience of working with handicapped children helps me to understand the energy and effort that goes into transporting a child with special needs.

Currently, the only handicap-accessible playground in the Austintown community is located at Leonard Kirtz School. This playground, however, is for use by the school only; it is not open to the public.

Hopefully, after renovations are complete the playground will become open to the public. Unfortunately, the school is still about $200,000 away from these renovations being completed. There’s no say when the playground project will be complete.

The kids who attend Leonard Kirtz School greatly enjoy time spent on their current playground, and it can be a great outlet for excess energy; however, when school is not in session, the playground is unable to be accessed, and with no other handicap-accessible playgrounds in the Austintown community, it can become very difficult for the families of these children to find different outlets for their child’s energy.

More handicap-accessible playground equipment in Austintown Park and the Austintown School District, which is open year-round, would greatly benefit the families of handicapped children and the children themselves in my community.

DANNAH LEWIS

Canfield