Under the direction of Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon, following inquiries from city residents, four playgrounds will be designated specifically for children with allergies. The city explains this is towards creating a ‘sterile environment’ for allergic children, even during afternoon hours, permitting the children to take advantage of the new areas while ensuring their good health.
Mayor Leon said, “There are hundreds of children who are allergic. They are many playgrounds spread throughout the city, but all of them have challenges for these children if they play side-by-side with other children, who may give them a candy or another item which they are allergic to. This is why I ordered setting up four playgrounds in large neighborhood in the city where there will be a separation between the eating area and the play area, with the aim of allowing each child to enjoy recreation and safe play during leisure time.”
The new designations will be for playgrounds on Aviezer street in Beit HaKerem, at the corner of HaMechanchot U’Margaliot Street in Gilo, Zissman playground in Har Choma, and Chursha playground on Ephrata Street in Old Talpiot.
The city feels that in addition to assisting the families of children with allergies, by designating special eating areas, “the parks will remain cleaner, more sterile, and more pleasant for users as opposed to the regular parks with food litter throughout the parks, wrappers and pieces of food. In addition, this promotes tolerance and thinking of one’s fellow man. In the framework of preparing the parks, there will be additional trash receptacles placed in eating areas along with signs explaining one should not eat outside of the eating area.”
Parents of allergic children explain that they are constantly required to maintain a safe and clean environment from allergens, around-the-clock, during the morning hours in educational settings, afternoons in playgrounds, while visiting friends, going on trips and more – as they are dealing with the health and lives of their children. The quality of life of the allergic children is impaired due to anxiety about allergic reactions and due to the social limitations of exposure to food outside the home.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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One Response
Sounds like a no-brainer. Separation of play and eating areas should be in place in all playgrounds. Litter is a major problem that besides being unsightly attracts vermin like rats.