Supervisor Bill Reilich is pleased to announce the opening of the new Greece Kids Canyon Playground at the Greece Town Hall Campus. This new ADA compliant 11,000 square foot playground will be a fun environment for kids both in the Town of Greece and in surrounding communities. State funding for the project, secured by Senator Joseph Robach, accounted for 70% of the total project cost. The remaining costs came from the Recreation Trust Fund, which is a restricted fund that can only be used for Parks and Recreational expenditures. The new playground far exceeds minimum ADA standards by including surfacing that will accommodate wheelchairs and walkers.
This is the very first playground in the area which features a ‘linked play’ layout, meaning the playground equipment is connected for optimum use and play. It is the first and only Rocks & Ropes Playground in New York State, and with over 160,000 pounds of precast concrete, it is one of the largest nature-themed playgrounds in the country. Also included in this new playground is an ‘expression swing’, which allows adults and children to swing together. Designed with children’s natural play in mind, this playground will develop balance and coordination in our young residents, as well as providing them with exercise. Children can enjoy imaginative adventures and challenge themselves by hopping across rocks and logs, swinging on ropes, and getting lost in a wilderness adventure.
The latest technology was used when designing this playground to ensure the safest, most accessible surface while maximizing the level of fun. For example, the playground is installed with Hydro Chill, which is a synthetic turf cooling system that can reduce surface temperatures by 50 degrees. As the turf surface is heated by solar radiation, moisture stored in the turf is released, leaving a cooler, more comfortable surface. This allows for increased playing time and greater comfort and safety for playground users.
The new Greece Kids Canyon Playground will also be the first playground in our region to use BIBA, which is interactive technology of augmented reality, imagination-driven playground games for parents to play with their children. The BIBA app is available on both iTunes and Google Play and is free to download. The app offers games such as treasure hunts and obstacle courses to keep kids engaged and active. Custom designed for our new playground, BIBA follows a strict “90/10” rule, which ensures that kids are physically active for at least 90% of the game with only 10% of their attention being spent on the screen. There are “markers” installed on the playground, which are considered “play stations” where BIBA users can unlock new content, activate mini-games, and reveal new treasures, as well as enjoy obstacle courses.
The new playground is located on the Greece Town Hall Campus at 1 Vince Tofany Boulevard on the left side of the Community and Senior Center. It will officially open Wednesday, July 5th, 2017.