Thursday, October 1, 2026
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A ribbon-cutting ceremony at Playa Raya marked the first step toward creating a new kind of recreational space in Bucks County, one designed so individuals of all abilities can swim, play and spend time together in an inclusive environment.
Following the ceremony on July 9, during which Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro cut the ribbon, the adaptive pool and splash pad opened for campers attending Friendship Circle Day Camp and Camp Gan Izzy as part of Playa Raya's initial phase.
The ribbon cutting marked the beginning of a much larger vision, creating Bucks County's first fully inclusive recreational campus designed for individuals with disabilities and their families. Although the project is being developed by Lubavitch of Bucks County, Playa Raya is intended to serve the entire community regardless of religion, background or ability once it opens to the public.
Located on a 12-acre property at 890 Bridgetown Pike between Langhorne and Holland in Northampton Township, Playa Raya is still in its early stages. Additional amenities and future phases must receive township approvals before the campus can eventually open to the public.
"Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony was the first time children were able to get into the pool," founder Rabbi Yehuda "Yudy" Shemtov said. "The kids found it amazing, and their parents did too. Since the ribbon cutting, I've been getting calls asking when we're opening because they want to sign up right away."
Those calls reinforce what organizers hope Playa Raya will become: a place where individuals with disabilities and their families can spend an entire day together without barriers, limitations or the need to split up because of differing abilities.
The adaptive pool area is only the first phase of a campus planned to include recreation, education and gathering spaces that accommodate people of all abilities.
Unlike many recreational facilities where accessible features are added after construction, Playa Raya was designed with accessibility as its foundation.
"The philosophy is completely backwards from how most places are built," Shemtov said. "Usually accessibility is added afterward. Here, accessibility comes first."
That philosophy is reflected throughout the aquatic complex. The original pool featured a traditional staircase leading into water that gradually deepened from 2 to 12 feet. Today, visitors first encounter a zero-entry splash area where children using wheelchairs or other mobility devices can enter the water without steps.
The splash area has its own filtration and heating systems and uses tempered water designed to reduce sensory challenges for children who are sensitive to colder temperatures. An accessible ramp with handrails leads into the main pool, allowing wheelchair users and other visitors to enter through the same primary entrance.
"We're trying to deal with the psychology of feeling different," Shemtov said. "If the wheelchair entrance is hidden around the side, you're already telling someone they're different. Here, accessibility isn't the alternative. It's the starting point."
Safety also shaped the design. Because some children with autism are prone to wandering, physical barriers separate the shallow splash area from deeper water while decorative fencing surrounds the aquatic complex.
"For parents of children with autism, security is huge," Shemtov said. "We wanted families to feel safe without making it feel like they're inside a cage."
While the pool is currently being used by campers from Friendship Circle Day Camp and Camp Gan Izzy, future phases call for adaptive playgrounds, shaded gathering areas, accessible multiuse fields, walking trails with fitness stations and an accessible fishing area along the property's two creeks.
"The goal is that someone using a wheelchair or crutches won't have to cross uneven grass just to get to the playground," Shemtov said. "Accessibility isn't just about the equipment. It's about being able to get there comfortably."
The campus is designed so families can spend an entire day together rather than separating based on individual needs.
"There will be something for everyone," Shemtov said. "Some people may want to swim, others may want to walk the trails, play on the playground or simply relax. The whole idea is that families don't have to separate."
Future buildings will include sensory rooms and quiet spaces where children who become overstimulated can take a break without forcing the rest of the family to end the outing.
"Usually when a child becomes overwhelmed, everyone packs up and goes home," Shemtov said. "Here, one parent can take the child to a quiet room or sensory area while everyone else continues enjoying the park."
Beyond serving families, organizers envision Playa Raya becoming a resource for organizations that support individuals with disabilities. Conversations are already underway with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Special Olympics and other organizations about using the campus for programs, research and collaborative initiatives.
The long-term vision extends beyond Bucks County.
"I don't want this to be the only one," Shemtov said. "If we can show that this works and other communities replicate it, then we've accomplished something much bigger."
The idea for Playa Raya took shape during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Shemtov recognized how few recreational spaces allowed families with children of all abilities to spend time together. At about the same time, a search for a swimming pool for Camp Gan Izzy led him to a neglected swim club that had been vacant for more than a decade.
Rather than purchasing the property solely for summer camp programming, he envisioned transforming it into an inclusive recreational campus where people of all abilities could swim, play sports, explore nature and spend time together.
"That was really the genesis of Playa Raya," he said.
The name reflects that vision.
"Playa Raya means 'play your way,'" Shemtov said. "We want people to come here and feel they belong exactly as they are."
Turning the vision into reality required a leap of faith. After questioning whether Lubavitch of Bucks County could afford to purchase and maintain the property, Shemtov received an unsolicited commitment from a donor to provide annual funding.
"The amount was exactly what I needed, not just to purchase the property but to maintain it," he said.
Since then, nearly $2 million has been invested in acquiring the property and transforming the former swim club into an adaptive aquatic facility.
The project is now entering its next phase as organizers seek Northampton Township approvals and continue fundraising for additional amenities. Those approvals will be required before Playa Raya can open to the broader public.
If approvals and fundraising continue as planned, organizers hope to welcome the community in 2028.
For Shemtov, the project has always been about more than building a pool.
"It became clear to me there was a need, and I knew we could do something about it," he said. "If we can change the way families experience recreation, and inspire other communities to do the same, then we've accomplished something much bigger than building a pool."
For more information about Playa Raya, visit playaraya.org.
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