FIVE FANTASTIC, INCLUSIVE PARKS IN KANSAS CITY
Inclusive parks contain play equipment that all children, including those with disabilities, can enjoy. Here are five of our favorite inclusive playgrounds! Note: All of these locations have smooth, wheelchair-friendly surfaces.
Shawnee Mission Park Inclusive Playground, Shawnee—This whimsical park looks like it came straight out of a storybook. It has multiple climbing structures, including an enormous net and a two-tiered orb that spins. You’ll find various musical and interactive elements throughout the park, as well as adaptive swings, fast slides and a wheelchair-accessible Sway Fun Glider that rocks back and forth.
Stilwell Community Park, Stilwell—With its wheelchair-friendly merry-go-round, accessible swings and climbing hill, this park is a favorite among Johnson County residents. A ramp leads to slides and sensory features. The playground also contains an interactive Braille sign, tunnels, a toy car and tall percussive pipes for playing music.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, Kansas City, Mo.—Funded by Patrick Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, this bright and colorful park celebrates children of all abilities. The play equipment includes a rope bridge, a tall slide, an expansive climbing net, a seesaw, inclusive swings, an accessible merry-go-round and a toddler play area. Another fantastic feature is the park’s communication board, which helps deaf and nonverbal children converse with their peers.
McCoy Park, Independence—Welcome to the Wild West! This park resembles a 19th-century mining town with covered wagons, pretend buildings and a cart filled with “gold.” Other amenities include accessible swings, stainless steel slides that accommodate children with cochlear implants, tactile and musical elements, climbing features and ramps leading to play structures. As the weather grows warmer, make sure to visit the park’s splash pad and inclusive baseball field.
Fred and Shirley Pryor YMCA Sports Complex, Kansas City, Mo.—This location doesn’t just have an inclusive playground—it’s also home to Kansas City’s only accessible sports center. The complex contains three sports fields and offers programs for children and young adults with disabilities. Children of all ages love the playground, which has climbing nets, slides, a spinning chair, accessible swings and a wheelchair-friendly AeroGlider.
Anna Hiestand resides in Blue Springs with her family. She has a passion for writing, art and cinema.