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Massachusetts Has 1 of the 10 Best Inclusive School Playgrounds in America

Author Aaron Natti
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?

source

  • 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

    GettyImages-1094918172.jpeg

    Lake Chargogggaggnauch, Webster, MA – 1899 – ?

  • Berkshire Pleasure Park - Pittsfield, Mass

    1902 – 1923

  • Charles River Park –Dedham, MA

    Bridge and yacht boat club in Boston city with morning sunrise USA.jpg

    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

    GettyImages-1331684108.jpeg

    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

    GettyImages-517491002.jpeg

    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

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