All-inclusive playground opens in Brookfield

 

BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- No matter what your age or ability may be, a new playground in Brookfield has something for everyone.  

It's a million-dollar addition that's already sliding into people's hearts.

"I love it. It's very good," said Olver Klein, Wirth Park visitor.

Wirth Park's renovated playground now has inclusive equipment for all abilities. The previous playground was 30 years old. Local government officials say they with additional fundraising and community support, they were able to make a playground that everyone could enjoy. 

"It's like, really big. There's so many options, it's hard to choose sometimes," said Rosella Krueger, Wirth Park visitor.

Eight-year-old Rosella Krueger decided on the monkey bars. With the cushioned flooring, falling won't be so bad.

"The padding throughout the whole play structure is really soft so I would say you could bounce up and down on the padding," said Brookfield Mayor Steven Ponto.

Private donors came up with $300,000 to transform the former Wirth Park Tot Lot into an all-inclusive playground. The city paid the rest.

"We really appreciate all the contributions we got and all the effort we got from people," said Mayor Ponto.

Kalee Gauger, who's part of a parent support group at St. Francis Children's Center that meets every Sunday, really appreciates that it's a playground for all.

"I think accessibility is so important especially for me, a mom of a kiddo who has severe non-verbal autism," said Gauger.

Her daughter, Zaelya, is four years old and loves to climb. Ramps and steps make it easy.

"Anything high she's like 'oh that's so great' because she's a sensory seeker," said Gauger.

The playground's got plenty of sensory stations too for sight, sound and touch.

The now inclusive Wirth Park offers accessible swings, slides and a merry go round.

"It's really important for the community to be able to have a place where everybody and all kids can come and play," said Natalie Harris, a mom visiting the park.

"I think all totaled it's a tremendous asset for us and I think it really puts us as I said as one of the nicest playgrounds near here," said Mayor Ponto.

And some of the youngest visitors say one of the nicest playgrounds also has some of the nicest people.

"Making friends here is a pretty big, 90 percent chance that you will and one percent chance that you won't," said Dexter Bahr, Wirth Park visitor.