Scranton, PA – Lackawanna County majority Commissioners Michael J. Washo and Corey D. O’Brien today joined with Lackawanna County Department of Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Bill Davis, Abington area officials and state representatives at the Abington Area Community Park to open the second of three inclusive Boundless Playgrounds that are being built this year in Lackawanna County.

Boundless Playgrounds are designed to serve children of all abilities and needs. In addition, Boundless Playgrounds promote intergenerational play. Parents, grandparents and caregivers with disabilities or limited mobility can freely navigate the play area to interact with their children.

“For the first time, a child confined to a wheelchair will be able to play on the same playground as a sibling or a neighbor, and they will realize that they are no different from one another, despite the disability,” Commissioner O’Brien said. “It’s one step towards erasing misconceptions and bringing children together.”

“With the Abington Boundless Playground, and our two other Boundless Playgrounds at McDade Park and at McHale Park in Dunmore, we have established a new benchmark for recreation in Northeastern Pennsylvania that focuses on providing play opportunities for children of all abilities and needs,” Commissioner Washo said.

The playground was developed by Boundless Playgrounds Inc., a Connecticut-based, non-profit organization, which has built more than 140 Boundless Playgrounds in 28 states and Canada. On Boundless Playgrounds every child can reach the highest play deck, play structures are configured to support children’s development, pathways and surfacing are universally accessible, equipment like swings and bouncers have back support, and elevated sand tables and activity panels allow children of all abilities to play together.

In September, the county opened a $500,000 Boundless Playground at McDade Park. The third Boundless Playground is currently being built at McHale Park in Dunmore. Cost for the Abington and Dunmore playgrounds is $250,000 each. The playground projects are funded by the Landfill Trust and by state gaming dollars from Mount Airy Resort and Casino.