My children attend a daycare near the Marian Anderson Recreation Center (MARC), and they often tell me that their class has walked to the playground that day, only to find it closed. Most recently, this happened on the first gorgeous almost-spring day of the season! I’ve talked with many fellow parents whose children report the same disappointment, and have myself often encountered the playground gate locked on weekends or holidays, which are prime playground days.

This isn't just a minor inconvenience—it's a significant issue for our kids. For numerous daycares and preschools, this playground is the only one in walking distance of the school. An incomplete list of schools that rely on the MARC playground includes Learning Train Academy (19th and Bainbridge), My Bright Beginnings (18th and South), and Aspen Grove (16th and Christian). These are city schools without their own outdoor play spaces.

The unpredictability of the playground's hours negatively impacts our community. Teachers and caregivers plan their day around taking these young children out for fresh air and exercise, and are met with a padlock — and unhappy children — instead. Young children need outdoor play to develop social skills and imagination, regulate sleep patterns, and explore movement. The closest alternative playgrounds are simply too far for a group of toddlers to reach on foot. 

MARC seems unique in this predicament. I've been told that the playground can only be open when the rec center itself is open and staffed. Why, then, are other local playgrounds affiliated with rec centers, such as Markward, Chew, Palumbo, and Columbus Square, open without fail? If these playgrounds can be open when the rec centers are closed, surely there must be a way for MARC's playground to be open too.

I am confident that we can collaboratively find a solution, whatever the reason for the inconsistent and inadequate hours. For example, I realize that the parking lot at MARC may complicate matters. If so, a pedestrian gate could be created to allow playground access while keeping cars out. 

The city must recognize the impact of a shuttered playground on families and children in our neighborhood and take immediate action to ensure that the MARC playground is reliably open during the times that families and daycare centers need it most. This includes weekday mornings and full weekend days. Let's come together as a community to urge our city officials to make this change. Our children's opportunity to play, learn, and grow physically and emotionally relies on open access to safe play spaces. Please sign this petition to demand consistent access to the Marian Anderson Recreation Center playground for all our little ones.