Ward 7 Alderperson Candidate Joan Whitney Puglia is proving to have a keen awareness of conditions around town.  Her mention of Dilboy Field‘s tot lot and baseball field has the Community Access Project members feeling stirrings of – hope.

We first contacted the State Department of Conservation and Recreation about the lack of accessibility and safety at Dilboy field in Summer of 2009 after Ward 7 families contacted us about the continuous problem of broken glass and also inaccessible condition.

By October of 2009, these issues were on the district manager’s desk; and we were in the process of scheduling a follow-up site visit with the Director of DCR’s Access Program.

However, the commitments languished and other deals were made.

Here’s what we found:

above:  DILBOY FIELD PLAYGROUND, BROKEN GLASS LITTER

Families with young children said this was a constant problem.  

They said they had contacted their Alderperson numerous times, received numerous promises and been disappointed 

numerous times.

above:  DILBOY TOT LOT NOT SAFE OR INCLUSIVE

Especially for the many low-income families in Ward 7, Dilboy field is a treasured resource.  

Yet Dilboy field offers little inclusive opportunity for the high percentage of residents with disabilities in Ward 7.

The loose-fill shredded bark mulch surface seen above is inaccessible and not a soft landing surface.

This composite play structure has about 12 elevated elements and only about 3 ground play components.

Federal code standards call for a 50-50 balance between elevated and ground components in any playground.

Since our survey was done in 2009, we ask SV readers:  Has a new play structure been placed here yet? 

above: NO ACCESSIBLE PATH TO DILBOY SWINGS

There is a border around the swing sets, with no accessible opening to allow in people who are excluded by steps.

above: DILBOY FIELD PATHS DESERVE TO BE IMPROVED

What a jewel of a place!  However, we didn’t find even a minimally accessible route  from Powderhouse Boulevard to these paths.  The paths can also be improved to allow for safe, accessible inclusion of people with ambulatory and mobility impairments.

above: Dilboy Baseball Field Benches Completely Leave Out People

who live with Ambulatory and Mobility Impairments.

SV readers:  have new benches replaced these yet?

Are there any accessible amenities so families with disabilities can enjoy the games, too?

Thanks to Joan Whitney Puglia and her campaign staff for talking about resident’s real, on-the-ground, quality of life issues- and how refreshing!