The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has opened its doors to the public, featuring a unique, 21,000-square-foot playground designed to be fully accessible to all children. The playground, located on the Midway Plaisance and across Stony Island Avenue from the Obama Center campus, includes three themed play zones: stone creek, musical grove, and picnic plaza.
Features and Accessibility
The playground features ADA-accessible swings, a slide with a platform for wheelchair users, and ‘sensory nooks’ including a mud kitchen, sound forest, and fragrance garden. Other features include a duck slide, an insect climbing space, and climbing equipment. The play space is funded by a $4 million donation from the Obama Foundation and was built in conjunction with the Chicago Park District and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.
‘Play is fundamental – every child and every caregiver should have access to a space that supports exploration, imagination, and fosters belonging,’ said Park District Superintendent Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. ‘This new park amenity reflects the District’s ongoing commitment to play space stewardship and enhancing public spaces that connect people of all abilities.’
The playground is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
