New park would cater to kids with disabilities

BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer

Milltown MILLTOWN –– Gae Condora has planted the seeds of a dream that officials hope will be in full bloom, alongside new flowers and trees, in a borough park this spring.

Condora’s daughter, Theresa, has cerebral palsy and severe developmental delays, and like many children who are confined to a wheelchair, she cannot use regular playground facilities.

Condora approached Councilman Mike Skarzynski approximately six months ago about the possibility of bringing a handicapped-accessible park to the borough.

Though funding has been the main obstacle for such a park, officials experienced a breakthrough two weeks ago.

“It was just a matter of trying to find money somewhere to be able to make it a reality, to try to do something for disabled children in our community,” Condora said. “My daughter is not the only disabled child in this community. And we shouldn’t have to take our children to another town to take them to a park.”

Skarzynski agreed, and said

that Middlesex County Parks Director Ralph Albanir notified officials that there is grant money available for

such a project, and that the borough is a strong candidate to receive that

funding.

“When [Condora] brought this up to me six months ago, it really bothered me because I saw so much that we did around town for children without special needs, and we weren’t really doing anything for our most needy children in town,” Skarzynski said. “That’s why I’m so happy that we’re moving forward with this.”

After Condora raised the issue with Skarzynski, the Borough Council discussed the issue, saying it was brought up by “a borough resident,” but that person remained anonymous. That is no longer the case, since borough officials invited Condora to meet with a company that builds playground equipment. She did so happily and also scheduled a second meeting with the company, J.J. Ryan, of Woodbridge.

“When they called me and asked me to participate, I was thrilled, because this is something that is so important for our community,” Condora said.

She said communities are making a greater effort than ever before to include disabled children in educational programs, and these children must be included in all the activities in which children regularly participate.

“They need to have every opportunity available to them that’s available to every child,” Condora said. “And if it means that we can have this in our community, it opens our community for other families.”

Condora has been searching through J.J. Ryan’s catalogue to determine what types of equipment should be constructed at the park, which would be located across from Parkview School, Skarzynski said. The potential park site is near an existing park and the borough swimming pool, which has already been outfitted to make it accessible to people with handicaps.

Condora said the company could build two different kinds of swing sets: one that could hold children who are unable to sit up on their own, and another that could hold a wheelchair, should the child be unable to get out of the wheelchair.

Also, she said she would like to see playground features and activities that the child could reach from his or her wheelchair, as well as features that are at a safe enough level for the children who can be out of their wheelchair.

Condora added that the equipment could be used by all children.

Theresa, who will turn 6 in March, has access to this type of playground equipment at her school, Bright Beginnings Learning Center in Piscataway.

But the nearest parks with such equipment are located in Edison and East Brunswick, and as a single mother, Condora rarely has time to take Theresa to either.

“On a weekend, I like to just walk to the neighborhood park,” Condora said. “Unfortunately, I walk to the neighborhood park and my child can’t participate, and can’t use the equipment that’s available.”

Another option that has been considered is putting handicapped-accessible playground equipment at Mill Pond Park when the playground portion of that park is constructed.

“That, too, has always been a possibility, but how much longer can we wait?” Condora said. “It’s going to be several more years before the park part of that is done. And I don’t want to wait forever.”

Skarzynski is confident that will not be the case. He said the council has already authorized the grant request, which will soon be submitted to the county.

He said officials are hopeful the handicapped-accessible park can be completed by this spring.

Condora, who has lived in the borough for 35 years, and still lives in the house she grew up in, said the new park would not only keep longtime residents in town, but it would attract other families who are looking for a place their special-needs children would be welcomed, and have opportunities they would not have elsewhere.

“Other families who come looking for a community to move into can say, ‘Hey look, I’ve got a kid who’s got a disability, and this community is friendly to that child,’ ” Condora said, “because you don’t have that availability in all communities.”