The Town of Indian Trail is moving forward on the newest addition to Crooked Creek Park – an all-inclusive playground tailored for children with various needs.
The playground, at more than 6,000 square feet, will be located near the Creekside Disc Golf Course and will be open by the end of January. With accessible ramps and play panels specifically created for youth of all ages and needs, as well as a pour-in-place rubber surface to provide easy mobility for wheelchairs, the all-inclusive playground will be the only one of its kind in Union County.
“The Town of Indian Trail is very excited to expand our offerings,” Indian Trail Parks & Recreation Director Jay Tryon said. “Our goal is to be able to provide services and amenities for everyone in our community and we believe this will help us achieve that. This accessible playground is the first of its kind not only in our community but in the County.”
The play panels are all of a unique design, allowing visitors to take part in different learning experiences as they work their way across the playground. Included in the playground is a Braille panel, a sprocket panel, a touch & play piano and touch & play drums, a paddle ball panel and more.
“The panels provide a variety of benefits,” Tryon said, “including helping develop fine-motor skills and dexterity, encouraging imaginative play, helping sensory and cognitive development, encouraging social interaction among children and helping provide tactile and visual sensory input.”
Made possible by grant funds from the North Carolina Connect Bond, the playground also will include a fully accessible teeter totter, a rock climbing tunnel, a spinning element, swings and multiple slides.
“The additions to the park, including the Miracle Field and the accessible playground, are sure to be wonderful benefits for both veterans and children with disabilities,” N.C. Rep. Dean Arp, who was key in bringing the N.C. Connect Bond to fruition, said. “Projects such as Crooked Creek Park are exactly why we included these funds in the bond package.”
The addition adds a new element to Crooked Creek Park, and will allow families to enjoy a wide range of fun activities with every visit. Crooked Creek Park also includes four baseball/softball fields, a dog park, disc golf course, walking trails, outdoor fitness area, a splashpad, a bocce and cornhole court, a shaded playground with zipline and more.
The Town currently is working on a plan for the next phase of development regarding Indian Trail Parks & Recreation. Residents interested in providing feedback on the future of parks and recreation can comment at www.envisionitparks.com.