Fishkill Sensory Playground

Fishkill’s Sensory Playground at Doug Philips Park came to life through the Town of Fishkill’s significant investments to enhance facilities and programs for their community. The space was previously inhabited by abandoned and dilapidated tennis courts. Fishkill councilmember Louise Daniele proposed the idea to revitalize the space with a unique playground and began working with MRC’s Mike Stankina on the design.

Their vision was to create a diverse space where children of all abilities could come and play in a safe, enclosed area. Fishkill council members and Mike began to choose pieces together in a collaborative effort to fit the community’s vision. This included options that would be great for children with sensory issues. This project provides a great example of how you absolutely can create an inclusive space on a smaller budget.

The existing tennis courts were milled and leveled, and the milling material was repurposed to extend the driveway and install a kayak launch into the nearby waterway. Installation was completed with traditional playground fixtures including a swing, slides, a balance beam, and more specialized equipment including outdoor musical instruments and a Sensory Wave for climbing, exploring, and engaging the senses.

The Sensory Playground’s grand opening celebration occurred in late September of 2023. The Town Board and Town Clerk joined students and staff from Fishkill Elementary School. “We are thrilled with the final outcome,” said councilmember Louise. “We have added painted roads for the children to have space to express themselves and some tables and benches for parents or caregivers to sit as the watch their children. All of the kids and the community are very happy to have a new playground for our children to enjoy.”

At the center of the playground lives a large Inclusive Whirl. This piece is mobility-device accessible, level to the ground, and allows space for a child using a wheelchair to join their friends as they spin together. The musical instruments include drums and percussion instruments as well as a concert-quality xylophone. The Sensory Wave Climber includes sensory panels that allow children to tactically explore.

Not only are Fishkill’s locals making the most of their new playground, but also members from surrounding communities. “We’ve had parents and grandparents from our town as well as other towns close by come and tell us how much they love and appreciate what we created. They also appreciate that it’s fenced in,” shared Louise.