LINN — Linn Mayor Dwight Massey welcomed about 30 people to Saturday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the All-Inclusive Playground at the city park.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with getting the park installed and working with the committees, and what I can tell you is that to me, this is a symbol that in the community of Linn —not just the city of Linn, but the community of Linn — is inclusive,” said Massey. “We want everybody to feel like they belong. They have an opportunity to be part of anything and everything that we do, and this just takes us one step closer to living out the mission that I set forth. So, I thank the committee for all of their work, the people who put their time and their effort into this, their financial support, and their labor. It’s amazing to see this come together. There were a lot of days I scratched my head and wondered if it would ever really happen, and here we stand. So to everybody involved, everybody in the community, I want to say thank you.”

Osage County Special Services Director Megan Reichart spearheaded the project that began in 2019. Progress was slow at times for a variety of reasons.

In August of last year, it was reported that miscommunication regarding concrete needs and getting the labor to get it done delayed the final push.

However, Massey noted then that the project would have been hampered without the generous support of volunteers.

“Some of the people in the community who have believed in what we’re doing have been willing to come out and help,” he said. “So, between the city maintenance staff and volunteers, we’re getting it done.”

Massey noted that State Tech and Aplex Inc. owner Ron Helmig have loaned the equipment necessary to pour and level the concrete. “It’s been frustrating at times, but when you see how much people are willing to pitch in and make it happen, it makes it worthwhile,” he added.

While the concrete was paid for with grant funds, part of the city’s in-kind labor match included working on the pours.

Reichart said she began to notice that other counties in Missouri were building inclusive playgrounds in their areas. “I thought this would be a great thing to bring to Osage County,” said Reichart, noting she contacted the mayor, and he directed her to the park board, whose members attended the first meeting with Unlimited Play and liked the idea.

Unlimited Play of St. Charles had been recommended with high praise, Reichart noted, adding that a representative met with the committee and presented information about inclusive playgrounds and a booklet of playgrounds that they designed, explaining a little about how the whole process works. Unlimited Play works exclusively with Little Tyke, and both companies are based in Missouri. 

The committee began by picking a “Farm Theme” for the playground to honor the county’s rural roots. Unlimited Play then fully designed the playground for the committee with input from members on what type of equipment was wanted. 

Unlimited Play is an award-winning nonprofit organization that builds universally inclusive playgrounds to promote health and wellness and change communities by providing freedom of play for all children. The transformational power of an inclusive playground brings kids and adults of all abilities together to play and learn from each other.

Unlimited Play is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps plan, design, and build fully accessible playgrounds. These playgrounds allow all children—regardless of their abilities—to play together. Unlimited Play has unique expertise in this area and is available to assist in the development of inclusive playgrounds that promote dignity, understanding, and respect among children. In 2016, Little Tikes Commercial and Unlimited Play announced a partnership to help provide the magic of outdoor play to children of all abilities.

An open house was held in April 2019 to unveil the plan, which thereafter slowly took form. Reichart and the committee sought grant applications and community support. Along the way, United Way of Central Missouri awarded a $20,000 grant, and the Helping Hands Foundation through Three Rivers Electric Cooperative pledged $10,000 in grant funding.

In November 2022, Reichart announced that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had awarded a Land and Water Conservation Grant totaling $229,911.20 to construct the playground.

“This is a matching grant, and through the generosity of the community and businesses in Osage County, we have raised enough funds to move forward,” said Reichart on behalf of committee members Tracy Winslow, Stacy Bax, Christina Laughlin, Cathy McCuskey, and Travis Greer at the November 2022 groundbreaking ceremony. “We are extremely grateful for the support we have received.”

Also, at that ceremony, Massey said, “I’m kind of at a loss here because it’s rather humbling when an organization and a group that’s community-driven can put together this kind of effort to raise the money to keep this dream alive, to work with the Department of Natural Resources and bring it to our community. Because it’s inclusive, every person in the community is going to get the opportunity to use this. We’re going to, hopefully, take down some of the barriers, and people are going to have the opportunity to become more of a community instead of just a few people who live here. So, I thank every one of you on behalf of the city and the people in the region of Linn and Osage County. We’re very humbled. Thank you so much.”

The project’s reason is simple: “Play is an integral part of child development, and kids and adults with disabilities are forced to sit on the sidelines while their friends play on the playgrounds,” said Reichart. Very few fully inclusive playgrounds exist. Many playgrounds are ADA-compliant, meaning you can get to the play stuff or use a piece of play equipment.” 

A fully inclusive playground allows kids with disabilities and non-disabled children to play side-by-side on all equipment. “If you are a parent with a disability, this inclusive playground gives you the ability to play on the equipment with your children,” Reichart added. It also allows you to reach your children if they need assistance. “

These playgrounds are specifically designed to remove physical and social barriers. Unlimited Play playgrounds feature smooth surfacing to ensure mobility, ramping to every platform, a sensory-rich environment, harmonic musical instruments, roller and metal slides for children with Cochlear ear implants, and parallel play elements.

Reichart reiterated that this playground is for everyone.

“This will be a place where children of all abilities play together, learn from one another, value differences, and find the strength to overcome obstacles,” said Reichart.

According to information submitted in the grant application, approximately 7.4% of Osage County residents under the age of 65 are living with a disability.

“One great aspect of this project is that families in Osage County will experience recreation and play without having to travel to another county or region to meet accessibility needs,” said Reichart.

OCSS, which contributed to the project, saw this as an urgent need in the community. Reichart believes there is a significant gap in residential and community living that needs to be addressed.

Initially, the committee planned to build the playground inside the Linn Lions Club fairgrounds, but that changed to the park behind City Hall on 12th Street, where the current equipment was installed in 2003.

Reichart anticipates that with good maintenance, the playground will serve the community for 20 years or more.

Linn aldermen developed the project as part of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy through the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC).

The project was initially due for completion last October, but weather played a role as contractors had to wait for warmer weather.

Linn’s new playground will be open during daylight hours.