This morning Windhaven Meadows Park officially opened in West Plano near the intersection of Windhaven Parkway and W. Spring Creek Parkway. The new park includes Liberty Playground, a 20,000-square-foot playground designed to be accessible for children of all abilities.
“Today in partnership with the great City of Plano and Mayor Harry, we unveil this universally accessible playground, a playground that will allow children with and without disabilities to play together in an inclusive, safe, and most importantly, a fun space for years and years to come,” said Liberty Mutual Foundation President Melissa MacDonnell.
Along with MacDonnell, Liberty Mutual Chairman/CEO David Long, Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere, 17-time Paralympic Medalist Tatyana McFadden, Plano resident Lola Dada-Olley, community partners, local children and Liberty Mutual employees all came together this morning to celebrate the opening of the park and playground.
“Truly, anything is possible – anything. And this is what this playground is all about,” said Paralympic Medalist Tatyana McFadden. “It is about bringing possibility into the lives of people with disabilities in this community. It’s about opening up a world, a world that was not available to me 24 years ago.”
A standard Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant playground that allowed inclusive play for children of all abilities was originally planned for Windhaven Meadows Park, but after a $1 million donation from Liberty Mutual, park planners were able to broaden the accessibility of the playground for both the user and the caregiver.
Liberty Playground contains 40% sensory play activities and 60% physical play structures built on synthetic turf. The equipment focuses on the six elements of play: social, emotional, physical, sensory, cognitive and communicatory. There is also a sensory garden with wooden elements, water features and ample shade structures and trees.
Windhaven Meadows Park spans 123 acres with amenities that include walking trails, a pond, natural open spaces, a dog park, spray ground, restrooms and a reservable pavilion, in addition to Liberty Playground.
Liberty Playground
5400 Windhaven Pkwy
Plano, TX 75093
