Tulsa Mother Seeks Inclusive Parks For Children With Disabilities

A Tulsa mother is pushing for more handicap-accessible playgrounds in the city.

Lauren George said although there are parks in Tulsa with accessible features, there’s not an entirely inclusive park. The city said it’s now taking feedback like this to help make improvements. 

Lauren George and her nearly four-year old daughter Lincoln enjoy visiting one of Tulsa's parks.

Lincoln has cerebral palsy, so she has limited movement with things like walking and climbing stairs. George said they face a lot of obstacles at playgrounds.

"There's typically only one baby swing, so Lincoln cannot be in a typical swing such as that one, she has to be in a baby swing," George said.

She said if a baby is already using it, they're out of luck. George said mulch also causes problems for walkers and wheelchairs. They hope the city will create an inclusive playground in Tulsa for kids with disabilities to use.

"There are different pieces of equipment around Tulsa, but there's not a fully inclusive playground," George said.

The City of Tulsa said starting Monday, it's asking for ideas and feedback to help improve the city's parks.

City leaders are holding online community meetings on Zoom, encouraging people to get involved in the process. They'll be taking input throughout this month.

George said she hopes this will mean positive change in the future and an all-inclusive playground in Tulsa.

"There's surprisingly few across the country, but it's something that I think every major city needs," George said.

To provide your input, take the online survey here and you can RSVP to a meeting here.