Massachusetts Has 1 of the 10 Best Inclusive School Playgrounds in America
When it comes to inclusive school playgrounds, Massachusetts tops the list, according to a new ranking from one of the nation’s largest healthcare staffing companies. Soliant recently published their list…
Photo courtesy of The Guild for Human Services/Soliant
When it comes to inclusive school playgrounds, Massachusetts tops the list, according to a new ranking from one of the nation's largest healthcare staffing companies.
Soliant recently published their list of the most inclusive school playgrounds in the United States, citing factors like quality and quantity of play features, stories behind playground development, and funding.
Among those playgrounds receiving national recognition was one at The Guild School in Concord, Massachusetts.
Boasting a 6,400 square foot playground, The Guild for Human Services facilities is used by both students and adult residents. Including a variety of slides, swings, climbing structures, motor planning, and sensory activities, the playground promotes the physical, psychological, intellectual, and social well-being of the individuals that The Guild serves.
"We praise The Guild’s commitment to ensuring all students—children of various abilities, ages, and backgrounds—have an equal opportunity to play, learn, and develop,"Soliant Senior Vice President of Education Lesley Slaughter said in a statement.
"We extend our acclamation to the school educators and support staff who help push inclusivity further into education systems and continuously work to benefit the experience for all children—regardless of abilities."
The Guild School came in #5 on the list, joining schools and playgrounds from Texas, Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri in the Top 5 of the ranking.
43 Massachusetts Lost Amusement Parks
When I heard the news of the closing of Walt Disney World's Splash Mountain, I became nostalgic. I began to think about the 43 Massachusetts lost amusement parks we grew up with.
Nantasket Beach
Growing up in Wista, that's Worcester for those who are not from here, we were a Nantasket Beach family. Once the decision was made to head to Nantasket was made, the day before, the Dad beach machinery kicked in:
Giant cooler, check
Ice, check
Subs, check
Drinks, (All sugar) check
Fruit, check
Mom, would handle the kids items, sun screen, and first aid stuff.
I remember starting the process to prep my Dad and Mom to take us to Paragon Park after the beach. But as I discovered in later years, we were a bit too young to mingle with the grown up kids at Paragon.
Forty Three Different Amusement Parks?
In searching, I couldn't believe that I found a list of 43 different amusement parks that were once operating in Massachusetts! Yes, there were 43 different local versions of Walt Disney type imagineers, bringing joy to Massachusetts families since the late 1800's!
Does Pleasure Island in Wakefield ring a bell? How about White City in Worcester? Not to mention Whalom Park in Fitchburg, and of course the lake in Webster with the very long name of Lake Chaubunagungamaug.
So, it's time to hop in our DeLorean and time travel back to find Massachusetts Lost Amusement Parks!
Out of the 43, only ONE remains open today! Can you guess which one?
Acushnet Park – New Bedford, Mass
1916 - 1954 Hurricane & fire contributed to park's demise
Atlantic Hill Park – Nantasket Beach, Mass (Nothing Known)
Nothing Known
Bass Point-Nahant Beach
Nahant, Mass-nothing known
Beacon Park-Webster
Lake Chargogggaggnauch, Webster, MA - 1899 - ?
Berkshire Pleasure Park - Pittsfield, Mass
1902 - 1923
Charles River Park –Dedham, MA
Nothing Known
Chutes at Boston -Boston
Nothing Known
Highland Park –Avon / Brockton
1892 - 1909
Hoag Lake Park-Silverlake Park – Milford, MA
1900 - 1922-Trolley service declines & fire destroyed theater and carousel
Hoosac Valley Park - North Adams, MA
1892 - 1923
Ingersoll Park - Haverhill
Nothing Known
Island Park – Island Park, MA
Nothing Known
Joyland Park – Springfield
Nothing Known
Lake Chauncey Park - Westboro Lake,
1901 - 1949 Park Burned
Lakeside Park – Lakeville, MA
Nothing Known
Lakeview Park – Lowell,/ Draccut MA
1895-1950
Lexington Park - Lexington, MA
1901-1920
Lincoln Park – No. Dartmouth
1894 - 1987
Lincoln Park – Lake Quinsigamond -Worcester, MA
1890s - 1907 Couldn't compete with White City
Mayflower Grove Park - Plymouth
1901-1945
Merrimack Park – Lawrence / Methuen
1921-1938
Mountain Park – Holyoke
1894-1987
Nantasket Beach – Hull
1901-1908 Couldn't compete with larger Paragon Park
Nipmuc Park - Mendon
1901-1980s
Norumbega Park -Auburndale
1897-1963
Oak Island Grove – Revere Beach
Nothing much known
Paragon Park – Nantasket, MA
1905-1985 Run down park attracted a rougher crowd & kept families away - sold to a developer
Pinehurst Park / Woodland Beach – Auburn
1906 - 1912
Pirate's Fun Park - Salisbury Beach
1979 - 2004
Pleasure Island – Wakefield
1959-1969 Unseasonably cold summer in 1969 bankrupt park
Point of Pines Amusement Park - Revere Beach
1907 Never opened - ran out of money when park nearly finished
Point of Pines Resort - Revere Beach
1881 - 1913
Revere Beach – Revere
1902 - 1969
Riverside Park (aka Six Flags New England) – Agawam
Agawam, Mass – 1914 - Present
Salem Willows Park - Salem
Nothing Known
Salisbury Beach – Salisbury
1889 - 2004 Resort town lost its popularity & condo development replaced what remained
Sandy Beach Park – Fall River
1892 - 1938 Fire in 1930 damaged park & 1938 Hurricane destroyed park
Silver Lake Beach - Franklin
Nothing Known
Westwood Park – Dedham
Nothing Known
Whalom Park – Fitchburg
1893 - 2000 Couldn't compete with nearby larger amusement parks
White City – Lake Quinsigamond -Worcester
1905 - 1960-Bankrupt for taxes owed to the city
Wonderland – Revere Beach
1906 - 1911 Financial difficulties due to a cold summer and competition with nearby Revere Beach
Woodland Park – Lawrence, MA
1909 - 1923? or 1932 Owner wanted city to maintain park - but city wanted an industrial area
