‘Inclusive’ children’s park

It’s a very special park, geared for use by children with special needs. The redeveloped Children’s Park in Rustom Baug, inaugurated on December 19, 2010, welcomes children with any form of developmental difficulty, whether autism, cerebral palsy or a condition that necessitates the use of a wheelchair. And the enthusiasm of these children, a dozen of whom had been invited from the Jai Vakeel School, was palpable as they enjoyed themselves using the equipment on the inaugural day, mentions resident Cyrus Bagwadia in a write-up sent to Parsiana via e-mail on behalf of the Rustom Baug Association of Byculla. Equally enthusiastic are senior citizens who congregate daily at the Park.

Redeveloped Children’s Park in Rustam Baug is Bombay’s first one to cater for those with special needs

The old park required repairs and renovation so instead of merely replacing the broken equipment the Rustom Baug Association decided to do something more meaningful. At the inauguration Rustom Sethna, the Association’s president proudly told those present that the costs were covered by donations from tenants and a generous contribution from the Association whose committee members worked actively on the project, for which he was grateful. Bagwadia, who spearheaded the planning and execution, explained: "I came to know of a dynamic, energetic lady named Kavita Krisnamurty of Kilikili Organization who was doing exactly the same in three municipal parks in Bangalore where alterations were made in the design of the play equipment for kids with a wide variety of capabilities and challenges.” Bagwadia believes that Rustom Baug’s is the first such inclusive park in Bombay,

The playground boasts a climbing wall with two gradients, a ropewalk and three-directional swing, among other creative play equipment. Bagwadia hopes that the Rustom Baug Children’s Park will inspire others to create inclusive parks, especially in the zoo complex and botanical park next door, the Veermata Jijamata Udyan (formerly known as Victoria Gardens) which are being redeveloped. Such a park would prove a tremendous boon as visitors from all strata of society throng the zoo and its gardens. The concept of inclusiveness means that all kinds of children learn and play together, motivating them to overcome their challenges thereby improving their esteem and self-confidence as well as sensitizing other children, building empathy and compassion which are important values in life, Bagwadia notes.

In pioneering such an inclusive park the Parsi community has done something creative which will help the less privileged in society, the write-up reveals.