Bowling Green’s all-inclusive playground is almost completed

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – An all-inclusive playground in Bowling Green is almost done and some locals are thrilled for their kids to experience the park.

At Roland Bland Park, a project in the works for several months is now nearing completion. The park allows accessible fun in the sun for everyone, whether they have disabilities or not.

Shalana Page’s daughter, Shatavia Barber, has spina bifida and is wheelchair bound. She has been looking forward to the playground opening for a while now.

“She is so excited. We ride by almost every single day to see the process of the park and she’s just, ‘Mom! I can’t wait! I can’t wait! I’m going to bring my friends!’ So, you know, she’s ready, ready, ready,” said Page.

The all-inclusive playground features a crum rubber ground that is wheelchair accessible.

“When we go to other parks, of course, they are mainly with mulch. Mulch and a wheelchair do not, you know, get along. So I have to help her maneuver around the park, basically pack her, so she’s not independent to be able to move by herself at other parks,” said Page.

Some of the jungle gym items have multiple wheelchair accessible entry points so that kids with disabilities can use the different amenities too.

The park also features special swings made for people with disabilities, a fun teeter totter with more supportive seats and, of course, slides.

All amenities that are fun for all kids, with or without a disability.

“That universal language of play, of a smile, just goes a really long way to push past barriers and help us all understand that no matter how different we are, we still enjoy the same things and we can live, learn, and play together and that is going to be really neat to see our new play project here at Roland Bland Park facilitate that,” said Cameron Levis.

The park also features some fun learning tools such as accessible instruments.

The park’s official opening date has not yet been released, but parks and recreation representatives say it should be done very soon during the Spring.