METAIRIE, La. — Imagine a place where kids, regardless of their abilities, can play. In Jefferson Parish, construction of a new inclusive playground will soon be underway. The playground will be designed to welcome children of all abilities, offering them a place to connect and just be kids.
No matter a child's ability, background, or race, all children deserve the chance to play at a playground. That includes children with disabilities.
A groundbreaking at Lafreniere Park in Jefferson Parish will soon see the largest inclusion park in the state, a park filled with special equipment. Stacey Allesandro said, "I have been taking my kids here for over 30 years. They're grown now, but now I bring my grandkids here."
Jefferson Parish Councilwoman Arita Bohannan spearheaded the project. She said, "This is a place where people of all abilities, disabilities, and challenges will be able to come and play and play with each other."
She went on to say, "In Jefferson Parish, we have one in 13 that have some sort of social or anxiety disability."
"For example, everything is textured, so when you rub your hands along it, you can feel it."
The councilwoman says the project is near and dear to her, saying, "My nephew was born on the spectrum, I was at a truly inclusionary playground in the state of Missouri, and I realised we didn't have anything like that for my nephew."
There will be equipment for children with auditory issues, spaces for nonverbal kids, and quiet spots for kids who get overwhelmed. Samantha McCann's daughter has sensory issues, and she says this playground will offer her child a safe space to just be a child.
She said, "Places that are also for teenagers, because most of the playgrounds in and around our area are designed for little kids, and this playground is going to be for people of all ages."
Allesandro wishes playgrounds like this were around when her son was growing up. She says, "One of my adult children is on the spectrum. Today, I have just been thinking how much a park like this would've meant to him."
She continued, "It's just something the community needs. We had nothing like that back then, and I really wish we had. It would have meant a lot to my son."
The playground is set to be completed by the spring.
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