The spinning equine joys of the carousel have been a distant dream for children bound to wheelchairs. But not any more, says Fairfax County.
As the centerpiece of a new playground, a ground-level carousel is just one of the amenities included in the soon-to-open Clemyjontri Park in McLean. The structure is built without a barrier between it and the ground, allowing for a wheelchair to roll on smoothly.
The park itself, which also includes lowered monkey bars, wheelchair-adapted swings and numerous ramps, is a disabled-accessible facility unrivaled in scope in Fairfax County, according to Park Authority spokeswoman Judy Pedersen. The park is slated to open in the next few weeks.
“This kind of playground is extremely unique,” she said.
The peculiar title of “Clemyjontri” is derived from an amalgamation of the names of the four children of Adele Lebowitz, who donated 18 acres of land to Fairfax County for use as a park assessable to the disabled.
The playground, which is intended for use by all children, is the first phase of a project that will also add trails and other expanded facilities on the property.
