Lions Clubs of Calcutta North and Calcutta Friends create an inclusive space for children with special needs
For children, play is how the world is discovered—one movement, sound and shared experience at a time. Yet many conventional playgrounds leave children with disabilities on the sidelines. At Lions Safari Park in Kolkata, a new space is helping change that.
Lions Clubs of Calcutta North and Calcutta Friends, District 322B1, have created a Diversity Park designed exclusively for children with disabilities. Developed with attention to their physical, sensory and emotional requirements, the park offers a structured and supportive environment in which children can play, explore and interact.
The benefits extend well beyond recreation. Outdoor play can strengthen mobility and coordination, improve focus, encourage communication and help children build confidence and social skills. The natural surroundings add another dimension, giving them the calming and restorative experience of spending time among trees and open spaces.
The Diversity Park also adds a new chapter to the history of Lions Safari Park. Spread across more than 9.5 acres in the Rabindra Sarobar precinct, the park was developed by Calcutta North Lions Club after the Calcutta Improvement Trust invited Lions to reclaim a neglected and unsafe tract of land in 1984. What emerged was a green public space that has continued to grow over four decades.
Today, Lions Safari Park includes walking and acupressure tracks, children’s play areas, open-air gyms, yoga and meditation spaces, gardens, a senior citizens’ corner and facilities for birdwatchers.
The Diversity Park makes this longstanding community resource more inclusive. It was inaugurated by International President A. P. Singh in the presence of West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, Panchayats and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh, International Board Appointee PID Sangeeta Jatia, Lion leaders, guests and beneficiaries.
The Diversity Park now welcomes children alongside the walkers, birdwatchers and seniors who have used Lions Safari Park for four decades.