JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — In recent years, there has been a nationwide push to install more inclusive playgrounds across the country so that kids with disabilities can get involved in everyday play.
Louisiana's first inclusive playground opened in Kenner a few years ago and fast forward to today, another one is in the works.
The latest inclusive playground will be in Lafreniere Park.
"This will be a place where there's no age barriers, there are no physical barriers and there's no mental or social barriers as well," said Jefferson Parish District 4 Councilwoman Arita Bohannon.
With a nephew who is on the autistic spectrum, Bohannon said it's a personal mission to create more inclusive playgrounds in Jefferson Parish and for the roughly 32,000 people in the parish with disabilities.
"It'll be our first large playground that will be inclusionary. People in wheelchairs who have physical disabilities can access the second level of play,” Bohannon said.
“It's also for people who are on the spectrum or who have social or anxiety disorders. It will feature a little quiet cove for people who get overwhelmed easily but it also will have slides that are for kids with auditory issues so that their cochlear implants do not get triggered and have to be reset like typical slides do."
About 1 out of 13 people in the parish have a disability according to Bohannon. Before she was elected, she led fundraising efforts for the first inclusive playground in Kenner.
Now the newly elected councilwoman is teaming up with Lafrenier Park Director Tripp Rabalais to give all of her constituents the chance to truly feel included.
"An inclusion playground is a big deal to me because it's personal," said Rabalais.
It's something he says will mean something to people like his sister, who has spina bifida.
"It's going to be wonderful because we're going to be able to watch kids like her that are physically challenged to be able to come in here and play. She can even come here with her godson and be included in play too,” Rabalais said.
The official groundbreaking for the park has not been announced yet, but parish leaders hope to open the park next year.
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