BRAZOS COUNTY, TX — More and more we are seeing ability inclusive playgrounds pop-up around the country. Most of the time in big cities. But there is one in College Station.
Rachel Wright has two daughters and a son. One of her daughters has special needs, but at Fun for All Playground, they can all play together.
"And it's a nice break for parents to have your kids run around and play safely because being a special needs parent is a lot of involvement," Wright said.
Her kids have been playing here since it's phase one opening in 2019. And the family is back playing in its phase two section with Candice Chambers' who has two daughters, one of which also has special needs.
"It's amazing because it's a safe area. It's fenced in. I don't have to worry about her running off or anything like that," Chambers' said.
The adaptive playground recently completed phase two of the park, debuting the Carolyn and John David Crow Field. It has a motion adaptive merry-go-round, musical area and much more.
"We knew that- that we needed it and it brings me great joy to finally stand back and say yes. We accomplished it and it's a community effort that everyone has been on board with," David Gerling, Steering Committee Co-Chair of Fun for All Playground said.
This park has been in the making for more than seven years thanks to a hand full of community organizations coming together to fund it.
Fun for All has no age limit, allowing parents who have physical restrictions to also join in the fun.
"Any playground we put in, we get a great response. So, when you build something to this caliber, that truly is inclusive, to all ages and all abilities then really you are just maximizing your win at that point," Kelly Kelbly, Parks & Recreation Assistant Director said.
More importantly it raises awareness, teaching young ones how to coexist.
"They are all playing together, whether some of them move as fast or not. You aren't having to worry about what color anybody is, what gender they are. They are just together, playing," Lisa Aldrich, Steering Committee Publicity Chair of Fun for All Playground said.
Showing kids that disabilities or not, we can all play together.
Fun for All Playground is now preparing for its third and final phase of the adaptive playground. It is unknown what that phase will be complete yet.