The Traveling Wheelchair

Tremont Street and Smith Street
Roxbury, MA 02120
http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks/openspaces/main.asp?ID=251

After visiting Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help – The Mission Church my Mom, Ric, Tony and I stopped at Mission Hill Playground located right next to the church. The Mission Hill Playground has a small park at the top and a playground below. We were all delighted to find the park and playground are all inclusive & accessible to all!

We entered through the Tremont Street entrance. Here is a “doorway” arch that leads into the park. It looks like a shamrock. Entering here brings you to a small park area which overlooks the playground. Paved walkways in this area are wide and easy to wheel on. Benches are set along the path for visitors to sit and enjoy the beautiful view of the City of Boston.

Off to the side are 3 picnic tables set under a shade tree and one is wheelchair accessible; 2 picnic tables are square shaped with benches permanently attached on all 4 sides. Yet 1 is wheelchair accessible for the benches are only attached on 3 sides leaving room for a person in a wheelchair to comfortably fit. Some college students who live in the area were enjoying their lunch at this accessible picnic table and when they saw me in my wheelchair they kindly offered to move to another picnic table. We explained we were just doing a wheelchair accessibility review and they let us take a picture of them sitting at this accessible picnic table.

All visitors can access the playground below via a stairway in the center or an accessible sloped paved walkway on the side. This paved slope walkway allows easy access for mothers with baby strollers or persons in wheelchairs. I was in my Permobil C350 Power Chair and found the sloped pathway easy to wheel along for the slope is gradual.

Once we reached the playground below, I loved seeing all the cement walkways between all the nice play equipment; these walkways are wide and easy to wheel along and allow access for persons in wheelchairs to get to all the play equipment.

Located in the center is a modern spray water fountain where kids can cool off on a hot summer day. A child in a wheelchair can wheel right into the center of this fountain for there are no steps or barriers of any kind. A visitor told me this fountain is lit at night so it can be accessed on a hot summer night.

All the play equipment in this playground looks very accessible to me which I haven’t often seen. There are wheelchair accessible  ADA Ramps leading up to the play equipment. These ramps have an Armor Tile Tactile System which is great for children and persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired for it has a non slip surface with raised bumps that can be felt.

These ramps lead to various play equipment that a child in a wheelchair can access and play various activities. I thought a disabled child could even be wheeled to the top of the slide; one parent/adult could lift them onto the slide; while another parent/adult could be at the bottom to help them off. At the bottom of the slides and other play equipment is a blue foam cushion which prevents children from getting hurt. Ric felt the foam and thought it would prevent an injury from a fall so it’s a great idea for all children. This blue foam cushion is located in all of the play set areas.

I was really impressed seeing the Mission Hill Playground for it is a Beautiful & Accessible Park and Playground!

I give the Mission Hill Playground FIVE STARS for wheelchair accessibility!!