County Executive Adam Bello opens new ADA-accessible playground at Greece Canal Park for local families

Monroe County, New York – Monroe County Executive Adam Bello joined Greece Town Supervisor Jeff McCann to officially open a new ADA-accessible playground at Greece Canal Park, adding another inclusive recreational space to the county’s parks system.

The new playground is located near Millenium Lodge and was designed to give children with and without disabilities a place where they can play and spend time together. The area will be fully enclosed by fencing and includes rubberized flooring, a communication board and a range of inclusive playground structures.

County officials said the project is part of a broader effort to improve accessibility throughout Monroe County’s parks. Funding for the playground came through the Monroe County Capital Improvement Project, allowing the county to add new features while continuing its work to make public recreation areas more welcoming to a wider range of residents.

“This accessible playground will be a great addition to Greece Canal Park and the entire Monroe County Parks System, featuring some of our largest slides and the largest tower structure built to date,” said County Executive Bello. “A part of our ongoing work to improve accessibility and inclusivity throughout our parks, the opening of the Greece Canal Park Playground comes just before the 100th anniversary of the County Parks system. I encourage everyone to keep an eye out for more exciting announcements and activities throughout the next year.”

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The playground opening also comes as Monroe County prepares to mark the 100th anniversary of its parks system. Officials say the anniversary will be accompanied by additional announcements and activities over the coming year, while accessibility remains an important part of the county’s ongoing park improvements.

For Greece officials, the new playground represents an investment in a popular community space and in families who use the park. Greece Canal Park is one of the area’s established green spaces, and the addition of an accessible playground expands the types of recreation available to local residents.

“Greece Canal Park is one of our community’s most treasured green spaces, and this new accessible playground makes it even more welcoming for all of our families. I want to thank Monroe County Executive Adam Bello for this investment in our residents, and I’m proud that Greece continues to be a place where inclusivity is built into the spaces we share,” said Supervisor Jeff McCann, Town of Greece.

The project is part of a series of accessibility improvements being made across Monroe County Parks. Recent additions include an accessible canoe and kayak launch at Churchville Park. Ontario Beach Park has also received an inclusive spray park and an accessible playground.

Together, the projects reflect the county’s efforts to make recreational facilities usable by people with different physical and communication needs. Rather than treating accessibility as a separate feature, officials say the goal is to build spaces where residents can participate in the same activities and interact with one another.

Anita O’Brien, executive director of Rochester Accessible Adventures, said inclusive playgrounds can have an impact that extends beyond recreation. She pointed to the social connections and shared experiences that can develop when children and families have opportunities to use the same spaces.

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“We are thrilled to see a playground like this being strategically planned – considering the true needs of individuals and families who gather at our county parks. These spaces provide more than just ‘play space.’ They serve as places of social and physical enrichment, where friendships begin, where relationships flourish, where shared experiences will last a lifetime. And when we make these spaces work for people with and without disabilities to engage together, our communities are greatly enriched and will flourish across a lifetime,” said Anita O’Brien, Rochester Accessible Adventures Executive Director.

The new Greece Canal Park playground is accessible through the park entrance at 241 Elmgrove Road in Rochester. With its enclosed design, cushioned rubber flooring, communication board and inclusive equipment, the new facility adds another option for families looking for accessible outdoor recreation in Monroe County.

County officials described the opening as another step in the continuing effort to improve the parks system and create public spaces where more residents can participate. The Greece Canal Park project also adds to a growing list of accessible amenities being introduced across the county as officials look ahead to the parks system’s centennial year.