Round Rock builds playground for all

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - Volunteers spent Saturday in Round Rock helping build a playground for special-needs kids. The the $1 million  Play for All Abilities Park is designed for children with and without disabilities to play side-by-side.

"This park will be an amazing accomplishment, an amazing step towards serving special needs kids in a place where they can play hand-in-hand with their brothers and sisters and feel they are truly part of the community," said Roger Heaney, with the City of Round Rock.

The park will cater to children with a wide range of disabilities. One piece of play-equipment allows children in wheelchairs to ride on and swing back and forth. Other elements will cater to blind children and those with speech problems.

"It's just so awesome to finally see a park that's designed for so many disabilities, so many different needs," said Mianne Haley. Her son, who grew up with special needs and is now in his 30's came out to volunteer.

"It would've been nice if it was around when I was little," said Chris Haley.

The Play for All Foundation raised more than $100,000 for the 51-acre park.. The City of Round Rock put up about $500,000, with the rest donated. City officials say they expect the park to draw families from across Central Texas.

"This is what we're calling a destination park, where folks in RR and all over Central Texas will drive in to experience this park," said Heaney, noting there are no other similar parks in the area. "Kids, no matter what ability, will be able to experience swinging for the first time; the experience of learning life skills in a park situation."