For decades, Montgomery residents of all ages have enjoyed the town’s various parks, getting the most out of their open space, rural serenity, and fun playground equipment.

However, while these parks are ADA-compliant, they may not be fully accessible to children and adults with disabilities, making it harder for these individuals to enjoy the town’s recreational spaces.

This is the mindset of Improve Montgomery Parks, a newly formed voluntary committee that seeks to enhance the town’s parks with full ADA accessibility. Members of the committee appeared at the Town of Montgomery’s April 16 board meeting, stating their mission and presenting their first project for Benedict Farm Park.

Back in November, during the town’s 2025 budget review, Resident Don Berger was disappointed with the funding allotted to the town’s parks. Determined to support the parks he and his family love, Berger joined forces with residents Anna Mercurio, Liz Lounsbury, Kaitlin Rickerd, Shannon Budd, and Sylvie Rainaldi to create Improve Montgomery Parks. Since forming, the committee has spoken with Town Supervisor Steve Brescia and Recreation Director Theron Adkins, both of whom were interested in the group’s plans.

“During your budget session, I came to the budget meetings and saw that you guys were having a rather large budget with a lot of problems with it. I looked at the park line and I was a little bit disappointed, but disappointed in trying to figure out what I can do to help out,” Berger said. “So I gave Steve a call and asked him if he would meet with me to discuss this, and he was very gracious. He did. I told him what our ideas were to fix all the parks, starting with Benedict Park. Soon after that, we were introduced to Theron, the parks commissioner, and he’s been a great help to us.”

As Berger and Mercurio stated, IMP seeks to revamp the town’s parks through various ideas and projects, with a major focus on accessibility. To fund these projects, the committee will apply for grants and collect donations from residents and businesses. Once enough money is secured, the group will coordinate with the town on the project’s bids and construction.

“We’re trying to bridge a gap between the town residents and parents of Montgomery, as well as with Theron, the head of the parks and rec department,” Mercurio said. “We’ve already been in contact with some grants that are available for this type of construction. We’ve already created an LLC, and we’re in the process of becoming a non-profit; I know that is very necessary for something that we’re looking to do.”

Following the group’s introduction, Rickerd discussed the importance of ADA-accessible parks, emphasizing their health and wellness benefits. She explained the difference between ADA compliance and ADA accessibility: ADA-compliant parks adhere to bare minimum standards, usually focusing on wheelchair accessibility, while ADA-accessible parks go above and beyond standards, creating inclusive environments that account for all disabilities. As an example, Rickerd noted that Benedict Farm Park’s playground was technically ADA-compliant, but did not adhere to most of the accessibility standards set by the United States Department of Justice.

“While I’m not a playground expert, after three years of working on this, my understanding is that the current Benedict Park playground meets only three of the 12 required standards,” Rickerd said. “The park has one swing and one ground-level panel that is largely inaccessible due to the flooring surface, which is mulch and ADA-compliant, and one transfer platform that leads directly to stairs, which are unable to be navigated by many individuals with disabilities. This means that for routine updates or repairs, the town will be required to invest in the accessibility laws.”

Rickerd asserted that the Town of Montgomery can set an example for other municipalities by pursuing accessibility improvements for its parks. She stressed that inclusive parks would attract families from across Orange County, strengthen the local economy through visitors, and turn the town into a role model for the county and region.

“We have an opportunity to make this town, and the parks we all love, a place we can feel even more proud of,” Casey said. “We have an opportunity to create a space in our town where every child, parent, and caregiver feels welcome. A space that reflects the values of this town, community, inclusion, and progress.”

Rickerd then presented the committee’s project for Benedict Farm Park, a plan she began working on three years ago with the town’s previous recreation director. The project would comprise a new playground fitted with various ADA amenities, including safe surfacing, ground-level play elements, ramps to reach elevated surfaces, sensory panels, inclusive swings, a merry-go-round, and sun shades. These amenities correspond to different disabilities; sensory panels, for example, would be great for children with communication needs, while sun shades would protect medically fragile children.

“This proposed playground is both ADA-compliant and ADA-accessible, and it meets all the Department of Justice standards. It is an addition to the existing Benedict Park,” Rickerd said. This project would be the first fully accessible playground in Montgomery, and only the third in Orange County.”

Additionally, the group wants to construct a walking trail throughout Benedict Farm Park, serving as a means of easily traveling around the park. Mercurio mentioned that Nick Fitzpatrick, CEO of Aden Logistics, has offered to donate stone for the trail.

“Another portion of what our group has been doing in these past few months since we have formed this committee is creating and extending a pathway in Benedict Park, which leads beyond the baseball fields and encompasses the entire park,” Mercurio said. “With Steve’s help, along with Jim (town engineer) and Theron, we have planned a map of a pathway that people who come to the park would be able to enjoy. Nick Fitzpatrick has already offered to donate stone for that pathway on behalf of this project and committee.”

While IMP is still early into its mission, both committee members and town officials are excited about improving their parks, and both parties look forward to working together to make Montgomery a more inclusive town.

To learn more about Improve Montgomery Parks or to donate to its projects, email admin@improvemontgomeryparks.com or visit the group’s Facebook page.