Julie Carasone speaks to the Stafford Town Board about the possibility of an inclusive playground at Emery Park (photo by Mike Pettinella)
By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service
Former Stafford resident Julie Carasone gives town officials high marks for keeping Emery Park in excellent condition – calling the recreation area’s facilities “some of the best in Genesee County.”
And the Route 5 park could become even better, she believes, by making it a place that welcomes children with various abilities.
Link to meeting: GENESEE COUNTY/Stafford Town Board Meeting/August 12, 2024 – Video News Service
Carasone appeared at the Stafford Town Board meeting on Monday night to pitch the idea of making Emery Park “a friendlier, inclusive and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant playground for all children with different abilities to be able to play.”
Reading from prepared notes, Carasone mentioned her 3-year-old granddaughter, Alexandria, who was born with congenital heart defects. The child suffered a stroke in her first month and underwent open heart surgery at 8 months old.
“Because of the stroke, she developed hip dysplasia, and it made it difficult, but not impossible, to walk, jump and run,” Carasone said. “Four weeks ago, she had hip surgery, which leaves her in a hip body cast for six weeks.”(Provided photo–Carasone’s 3-year-old granddaughter Alexandria)
Carasone said that “an inclusive playground is of great interest to me because I want to see my grandbaby be able to enjoy playing with her sibling, cousins and friends.”
Some of the modifications she proposes include:
— Ramps instead of rope ladders or hard ladders for easier access to slides;
— Wheelchair accessible swings, walkways and wider decks;
— Soft flat padding instead of stones or chopped up tires to make it easier for kids to talk while providing a soft landing if they trip or fall;
— Different swing options;
— Ground-level options for those who can’t climb;
— Sensory playground equipment.
Recently, board members reported that some of the playground equipment had been damaged, and this prompted Carasone to explore ways to obtain funding for repairs. She said she spoke with Eric Fix, City of Batavia assistant manager, about Batavia’s plans to replace equipment at Austin Park.
She said that the city received a $500,000 matching grant from the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Batavia is contributing another $225,000 from its Department of Public Works capital reserve account, Carasone said. She added that the city is looking to contract with companies that specialize in playground design and construction.
Carasone then asked the board to “seek out grant opportunities and use some of the town’s American Rescue Plan Act funds to start the process.” She added that she thinks City of Batavia or Genesee County officials would share pertinent information with the Stafford Town Board to help facilitate modifications at Emery Park.
Gary Snell, longtime former Town of Stafford employee, said he was worried about the town’s “control” of the park if federal money was used to improve it.
“What we tried to do up there (was to) get the equipment … from the town of Stafford, so that we could control it from the town of Stafford,” he said. “You start getting federal monies in there and monies from all around, and you have no control over who’s going to use it. But there’s the possibility of checking in with the quarry and other places to replace some of this stuff.”
Deputy Supervisor Ronald Panek asked Carasone to forward the information she received from Fix to the board.
“I would be curious. The City of Batavia, they may have the advantage of demographics that allows them to get much in funding,” he said.
Carasone replied, “I’m definitely not saying that you guys need $775,000 to rebuild a playground — nothing close to that — but just something a little bit different so kids can play.”