Watch CBS News

Town To Open Special Needs Inclusive Playground In Old Bethpage

OLD BETHPAGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Some special needs children in local neighborhoods feel left out, especially when it comes to playground equipment in neighborhood parks.

Now a group is working to change that, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported.

Noah Pickus, 11, of Plainview, was born with a congenital infection which led to cerebral palsy and hearing loss. Noah loves exercising and being outdoors and doctors say it's the best thing for him, but the active child is often left out in his family's favorite parks nearby.

"It's been very difficult for Noah. Growing up, nothing really around here to be able to do. He hasn't had the same opportunities typical kids have had," father Robert Pickus said.

The Pickuses know what could be. They have driven Noah to a park 20 minutes away in East Meadow with extensive special needs services. Currently, the one handicapped accessible playground is in Eisenhower Park. It is very popular, but for many families it's inaccessible because it is miles away.

People with big hearts wanted to help tackle the problem. On Saturday, more than 30 volunteers, mostly Junior League of Long Island members, assembled and installed a new inclusive playground not far from the Pickuses in Haypath Park. The location is close to several Boards of Cooperative Educational Services and special needs schools in Plainview and Old Bethpage.

"It's just terrifically retrofitted into our existing playground, so none of the original equipment has been removed. It will be able to have children of all abilities playing together," Rebecca Alesia, a Town of Oyster Bay Board member, said.

The nonprofit junior league donated $30,000 and earmarked this as their volunteer project in its first partnership with a town government.

"The opportunity to partner together and do bigger and better things I think is really the trend," Junior League of Long Island Member Joel Blainey said.

As a result, kids can push buttons to hear musical sounds, bang drums, make rain fall, turn wheels, and speak through bullhorns to communicate across the playground.

"It really encourages exploration, interactions and mobility throughout entire park," Andrew Rothstein, of Town of Oyster Bay Operations, told CBS2.

The park officially opens this week and Noah can't wait.

The equipment is cool to the touch and covered in vinyl with a ground surface to accommodate wheelchairs.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.