Carmel Opens New Adaptive Playground at Airport Park

State Sen. Pete Harckham is joined by Carmel Town Supervisor Mike Cazzari, town board members, and community members at the recent ribbon cutting of the Airport Park inclusive playground in Mahopac. Photo by James Persons/Harckham’s office.

The Carmel community came together recently to celebrate the grand opening of the new Airport Park adaptive playground in Mahopac, which was made possible in part by $250,000 in state funding that State Sen. Pete Harckham helped secure.

“Inclusive playgrounds are more than just accessible – they are vibrant spaces where children of all abilities can play, learn, and grow together,” said Harckham. “They not only break down physical and social barriers, but also cultivate a community that shares its values. I thank the town supervisor, the Town Board, the recreation staff, and the community at large for proving that positive things can happen when everyone works together.”

The town held a special ceremony for the new playground opening during its National Night Out celebration Aug. 5, where community members of all ages joined Harckham and Carmel Town Supervisor Michael Cazzari in officially cutting the ribbon for the new space.

“Thank you to Sen. Harckham for all your support – each and every year you come through for Carmel,” said Cazzari. “This playground is an awesome addition to our community that everybody can enjoy.”

The playground includes slides, monkey bars, and swings. The equipment is wheelchair and American-with-Disabilities-Act-accessible, multisensory, and developmentally friendly, where children of all abilities can play together. 

Harckham was able to secure the $250,000 through the New York’s State Aid to Municipalities grant program.