'Play your way' is the mantra of supporters for the new PlayaRaya, an innovative, ultra-accessible play/recreational space designed for everyone. These proponents' principles and projects are rooted in the belief "inclusion is a right, not a privilege."
Visionary founder Rabbi Yehuda "Yudy" Shemtov says families with differently abled individuals often find it challenging to enjoy a place of recreation and activities together, where all members can have equal accessibility and enjoyment. "So, we're creating that space on a 12-acre property in the heart of Bucks County. This revolutionary project is being developed with the long-term goal to combine all-access recreational playgrounds, multipurpose fields and trails, along with all-accessible swimming and water park activities."
Reflecting 30 years of devotion to disability programs, the rabbi founded Lubavitch of Bucks County, a Newtown-based network of social, educational and religious programming for the Jewish community. He also is the longtime executive director of Friendship Circle, an organization that supports and provides programming for the special needs community.
"The difference between retrofitted and purpose-built public facilties, such as PlayaRaya, is the difference between tolerated and celebrated," he adds.
PlayaRaya Executive Director Cameron Miller says they recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local and state politicians plus Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro at their Langhorne location.
Ilya Rabovetsky, a PlayaRaya founding advisory councilor, project adviser and principal of Redblock Realty Inc., says the group, All Abilities Recreation Inc., doing business as PlayaRaya, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. He adds the project’s location at 890 Bridgetown Pike in Northampton Township is strategically positioned just 10 minutes from Sesame Place and within easy reach of the Greater Philadelphia region.
This summer, the group unveiled two pools, splashpads and athletic courts for basketball, tennis and volleyball. Both pools are accessible, with one being a zero-entry pool, specifically designed to ensure all can enjoy the water safely and with confidence. Cameron says they're working through their prototype period, using the new space for internal camps that include individuals with disabilities: Friendship Circle and Camp Gan Izzy.
Regarding next steps for PlayaRaya, Cameron says, "We have early concepts and ideas for a full buildout beyond the pool and splash pads, but we have much more work to do with our partners, including officials at Northampton Township, to ensure plans serve the needs of all individuals and meet regulatory approvals."
Additional potential phases, projected into 2028, may include accessible playscapes, therapy trails, fitness stations, pickleball courts, calm zones and sensory deprivation spaces, as well as educational areas.
Rabbi Yudy says they seek to create a vibrant, joyful space. "We're continuing to build upon the foundation we’ve established in this first phase, for instance, by installing colorful features in our splash pad. Creating a beautiful space is important to us, because it helps to ensure every person who comes and belongs here feels celebrated."
He continues, "While it’s just the start, current visitors are getting a taste of the aesthetic to come through splashes of color and on-site pictures of visitors having fun, as well as inspiring concept art of how we hope PlayaRaya will develop in the future."
The project is intended to serve as a national model for recreation and outdoor facilities for disabled persons and their supporters. The rabbi says the group has an ambitious vision of expanding and bringing facilities, like PlayaRaya, across the Commonwealth and the country. "We truly believe individuals with disabilities everywhere, and their friends and families, deserve a place they can come with confidence, knowing that their needs will be met and that they can have a wonderful time."