Peoria Park District opens new inclusive playground in West Peoria
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Children of all abilities now have a place to play at Fransiscan Recreation complex, thanks to Peoria Park District.
The new playground includes a cliff wall, nature discovery table, interactive play panels like the letters maze and tic-tac-toe and much more.
The sound of kids' laughter filled the air in and near the playground as a handful of kids got the first crack at the new playground. Their parents stood by, watching and enjoying the sights and sounds.
Emily Cahill, the district's executive director, is glad to be able to work with the community in order to provide for the children.
'It's an opportunity for us to bring some new life to this park, which is well loved, lots of sports, a walking track that is used all the time,' she said during a mid-day press conference attended by the officials from the district and the city of West Peoria.
It took roughly a year of community involvement, planning and design to get to this point.
While parks within the park district are ADA compliant, Cahill said that out of the 42 total playgrounds, there are still more than a few that need to be fully replaced due to wear and tear and their age.
'We probably have somewhere in the range of 12 to 15 that need that full blown replacement and we have others that we're working on elements,' she said.
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A district priority is to be welcoming to all people, regardless of ability or age.
'One of our priorities is to make sure, as we talk about being welcoming to all that we mean to all,' she said. 'So really prioritizing this inclusion effort, making sure that we are representative and accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical ability, is something that we have prioritized and will continue to prioritize.'
The district is working with smaller communities in the area to update or upgrade playgrounds that need it. Cahill even went as far as to say that Columbia Park on McClure Avenue could have a new playground sooner rather than later.
'We're really focusing in on those areas that need the most attention first, and then we'll work through you'll see new playgrounds at Columbia by the end of the year.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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