Construction of Inclusive Playground in Central Park Begins Sept. 3rd

Construction of an all-inclusive playground is scheduled to begin at Central Park in Grinnell on September 3rd. The project will add six new interactive components south of the existing Central Park playground on the northeast corner of Broad Street and Third Avenue, providing a space where children of all abilities can play together in an inclusive environment.

The construction, which is expected to be completed in the first half of October, will require the temporary closure of part and, at times, all of the existing Central Park playground.

The playground expansion will feature six new interactive components, including an arch that will allow users to play hundreds of different games to improve cognitive and motor skills with the assistance of a mobile app.

This project was initiated after a community member brought the need for inclusive play equipment in the community to a Parks & Recreation Board meeting in the summer of 2021. Through research conducted by the Parks & Recreation Department, it was found that 11 percent of children have some type of disability that could greatly benefit from playground equipment that is more inviting for their abilities. The Grinnell Parks and Recreation Board secured funding for the addition to the playground through grants, private donations, and city funding.