Israel’s Ministry of the Negev, the Galilee, and National Resilience budgeted approximately $5.9 million for the construction of 33 accessible playgrounds for people with disabilities around the country.
The ministry described the move as another important step that it is taking, in cooperation with the local authorities, to improve the quality of life and promote equality for the residents of these areas, especially for people with disabilities.
The ministry said that the accessible playgrounds bring real help to children with disabilities and their families, who for the first time will be able to use all the facilities, including the slides, with their friends. Moreover, mothers and fathers with wheelchairs will be able to go up to the central facilities and play with their children, like all parents.
The amusement facilities in the parks are the result of Israeli planning and development and were made in collaboration with accessibility experts, parents of children with disabilities and adults who themselves require accessibility. The central facility is suitable for wheelchair mobility and parallel passage of 2 wheelchairs at the same time. It combines sensory panels, music and games, braille, a carousel on line 0 and other facilities adapted to wheelchairs.
The towns set to receive the new playgrounds include Ofkim, Eilat, Elad, Ashdod, Baka al-Grabiya, Be’er Sheva, Bir al-Makhsor, Beitar Illit, Bnei Brak, Jessar al-Zarqa, Deir Hana, Dimona, Hazor HaGalilit, Tiberias, Tayba, Yokneam Illit, Kfar Kasem, Lod, Migdal Ha’emek, Merhavim, Nahariya, Nof HaGalil, Netivot, Acre, Araba, Arad, Kiryat Gat, Rahat, Raksim, Ramla, Segev-Shalom and Sderot.