About Us
Overview
Our Mission
Boundless Playgrounds® is the first national nonprofit dedicated to helping communities create extraordinary barrier-free playgrounds where children, with and without disabilities, can develop essential skills for life as they learn together through play.
Download our brochure, entitled “Shouldn’t Playgrounds Be for Everyone?”
Our Inspiration: Building the Dream of Play for All
A little girl in a wheelchair sat on the sidelines fighting back tears as she watched the other children play on a playground she couldn't get to or on. She probably wondered why the playground wasn't a place where everyone could play.
Several months later, after the heartbreaking death of their nine-month-old son Jonathan from spinal muscular atrophy, Amy Jaffe Barzach and her husband Peter sought a meaningful way to honor his memory. Remembering the little girl in the wheelchair at the playground, they decided to create a playground where children with and without disabilities could play and learn together. After the playground opened in 1996, hundreds of people wanted to know how they could build playgrounds for children of all abilities in their communities. This led a passionate team of parents and professionals to establish Boundless Playgrounds in 1997.
To learn more about our inspiration, click here.
Boundless Playgrounds: Removing Barriers to Play
On a Boundless™ playground you’ll find:
- every child can reach the highest play deck
- play structures configured to support children’s development
- universally accessible pathways and surfacing
- cozy spots where everyone can gather
- equipment like swings and bouncers with back support
- elevated sand tables and activity panels where children of all abilities can play together
- sensory-rich activities that let the imagination soar
- everyone can be in the middle of the fun!
Making Dreams Come True
- Today, there are more than 100 Boundless™ playgrounds in over 20 states and Canada with dozens more in development
- Children of all abilities can experience the shared joy of playing together at a Boundless™ playground in their community
- Successful statewide initiatives in Connecticut, Florida, Maryland and Michigan have established multiple Boundless™ playgrounds
- Our Playground Industry Partners now offer Boundless Playgrounds Certified Models, making it easier and faster for communities to achieve their dream of inclusive play
- Support from families, corporations, foundations, government agencies, community leaders, civic groups, parks and recreation professionals and countless others is making a real difference in children’s lives
