Description
The new 30,000 square foot play area at Danehy Park is the first playground in Cambridge to fully incorporate Universal Design (UD) - the concept that all parts should be as usable as possible, without changes, by everyone. In addition to physical accessibility, UD takes sensory, cognitive, and emotional abilities into consideration to create an environment that is welcoming to all people to the greatest extent possible. Cambridge is known for the healthy, safe, and innovative designs of our parks and playgrounds. While many of Cambridge's playgrounds include elements of UD, by constructing a playground that demonstrates UD principles in every feature, we are taking the City’s commitment to inclusivity further and reimagining how we think about built spaces.
The UD Playground has several areas that encourage visitors to interact with each other, including the Swing Zone, Spin Zone, and Climbing Slope.The Junior Play Area features a train-shaped play structure with various climbing features and a double slide. The Senior Play Area includes a tower, climbing ladder and wall, sliding bars and slide, and a talk-tube network that communicates messages to different parts of the structure. Both play areas accommodate people of all ages who use mobility devices, and both reflect details of Danehy Park’s history as the former site of the New England Brick Company.
“Cambridge is known for the healthy, safe, and innovative designs of our parks and playgrounds, and many of our playgrounds incorporate elements of Universal Design," said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. By constructing a playground that demonstrates UD principles in every feature, we are taking the City’s commitment to inclusivity further and reimagining how we think about built spaces.”