BRICK, N.J. – Brick Township is bringing a new accessibility feature to its municipal parks, beginning with a communication board at Windward Beach Park designed for residents who have difficulty communicating verbally.
Mayor Lisa Crate announced that the township plans to eventually install the boards at every municipal park with a playground. The boards allow children and adults to communicate by pointing to letters, numbers and familiar images rather than relying entirely on speech.
- Windward Beach Park will receive Brick’s first communication board in the coming weeks.
- Each board will feature the alphabet, numbers zero through nine and 72 recognizable images.
- Brick plans to eventually install the accessibility feature at every township park containing a playground.
The project is intended to make Brick Township parks easier to use for people who are nonverbal, minimally verbal or have other speech and communication difficulties.
First Communication Board Coming to Windward Beach
The first board will be installed at Windward Beach Park in the coming weeks, according to the township.
Rather than requiring someone to verbally explain what they need or want, the board provides visual options that users can point toward.
Each sign will contain images representing every letter of the alphabet, numbers from zero through nine and 72 recognizable pictures.
Those images can help a person communicate needs, emotions or what activity they would like to do while visiting the park.
The boards can be particularly useful for children and adults whose speech is limited or who use alternative forms of communication.
Brick Plans Boards at Every Municipal Playground
Windward Beach is intended to be the beginning rather than a one-time installation.
Crate said she expects communication boards to eventually be placed at every Brick municipal park that includes a playground area.
“Brick Township is a caring and welcoming community, and we want every resident to be able to enjoy all that our parks have to offer,” Crate said.
She said the township wants its recreational spaces to work for residents who face different challenges.
“We hope these signs will provide helpful resources and make it easier for those who need them to fully enjoy their time in our parks,” Crate said. “If they make a difference for even one person, they will have been more than worth it.”
The initiative expands the accessibility options available at Brick’s recreational facilities without requiring visitors to bring or operate specialized equipment.
Township Designed Boards In-House
Brick employees are handling both the design and installation of the communication boards.
The township created the layout and design, while signs are being assembled by the Brick Township Department of Public Works sign shop.
Public Works employees will also install the finished boards at the parks.
By using pictures alongside letters and numbers, the signs can provide several ways for someone experiencing difficulty with speech to communicate with a parent, caregiver, friend or another person.
For families with children who communicate differently, that can turn a trip to the playground into a more independent and inclusive experience.
The township has not announced a timetable for completing installations at all municipal playgrounds. For now, Windward Beach will serve as the first location, with additional parks expected to follow.
Brick’s first communication board is going to Windward Beach Park.
The township expects the board to be installed in the coming weeks before expanding the program to other municipal playgrounds.
The boards are designed for people who have difficulty communicating verbally.
Users can point to letters, numbers and 72 recognizable images to communicate needs, feelings and activity preferences.
Brick intends to expand the program throughout the township.
Mayor Lisa Crate said the goal is to eventually place a communication board at every municipal park containing a playground.
Sources: Brick Township announcement; Office of Mayor Lisa Crate.
