Somerville Adds 10 Inclusive Swings at Playgrounds Citywide

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, and the Somerville Parks and Urban Forestry Division (PSUF) are inviting community members to a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of an important accessibility project bringing 10 new inclusive swings to playgrounds across Somerville, increasing the percentage of City parks with inclusive swings from 39% to 83%.

The ribbon cutting will be held on Monday, November 17, at 10 a.m. at Hoyt Sullivan Playground (117 Central St.). In the event of inclement weather, the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday, November 20, at 3 p.m.

“Somerville is committed to ensuring that all children can play, grow, and connect in our public spaces,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “By expanding inclusive play opportunities citywide, we’re strengthening accessibility and belonging for every family. I want to thank the Commission for Persons with Disabilities for advocating for this project and our Public Space, Racial and Social Justice, and Public Works teams for making it happen.”  

About the Project

Initiated and funded by the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the inclusive swing installation was led by PSUF in collaboration with the City’s Department of Racial and Social Justice and the Department of Public Works.

Informed by survey input from the disability community, the project prioritized sites where there were no existing inclusive swings, duplicate infant swings, or opportunities to safely retrofit playgrounds with appropriate surfacing and fall zones.

The new swings meet modern safety standards and third-party conformance testing. Designed for children ages 2 to 12, they include a hard harness and an additional belt harness option for younger users that requires adult supervision. 

Caregivers of Somerville children who require a belt harness may contact Meg Koglin at mkoglin@somervillema.gov or by calling 311.

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.  

The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event. 

This event will be videotaped by the City’s GovTV team. Watch it on-demand with optional closed-captioning (select the CC icon) on YouTube.com/SomervilleCityTV. Or watch on cable TV at GovTV ( somervillema.gov/video) Comcast Ch. 22 and GovTV Astound (RCN) Ch. 13 & 613. Videos generally post within one business day of recording.