BRADENTON, Fla. — Manatee County is beginning construction on its first ADA accessible playground at Tom Bennett Park.

This week, a groundbreaking ceremony for the $1.2 million playground was held with officials from the Kiwanis Club, who donated more than $780,000 to the project.

The club first approached commissioners to build the playground, along with aid in the design process. Kiwanis officials said it’s in honor of celebrating the club’s 100th year.

“All children of all abilities will be able to use every piece of equipment on this playground; there will be a zipline, slides, a swing, but each one will access, no matter what physical abilities,” said Andrew Minor, President Bradenton Kiwanis.

Cheryl Miller and her son Matthew love to stay busy and sometimes visit playgrounds.

 Matthew participates in several sports through the Special Olympics but trying to play often isn’t as easy for him.

“We don’t go as often because it is a struggle for him,” Cheryl said. “And I want him to be able to have fun and not struggle to have fun.”

Some of the planned features for the playground include ramp accessibility onto the play structures, slides, climbing nets, a climbing wall, built-in sensory and cognitive activities, a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, zip lines with accessibility seats, shade covers and synthetic turf ground. (Manatee County rendering)

The first-ever ADA accessible playground at Tom Bennett Park in Bradenton is a joint venture between the county and the Kiwanis Club.

“It will be more accessible for him; I think he will really enjoy it; it’s long overdue,” she said.

The 13,000 square foot playground will include slides, as well as climbing nets, but with ramps included for easy access. And the playground has built-in sensory activities and a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round. 

Just like any mom, Cheryl’s main worry is safety, which is why there will be synthetic turf that meets safety requirements.

“We will definitely come out and give it a try,” she said. “There are a lot of neat things it will have that a lot of other playgrounds don’t have.”

She’s noticed a trend of more places accommodating people with disabilities.

“Every year, things are getting more and more accessible for people with disabilities,” she said. “They are more accepted into society than what they ever used to be; more people are recognizing it, and it gets better every year.”

Cheryl hopes to make this another form of exercise.

“It’s needed; we haven’t gone to too many of the regular ones just because it wasn’t easy for him to have fun there, whereas this one has new things and experiences he will enjoy,” she said.

This new playground aims to change that and provide the opportunity for more fun for Matthew. Construction on the new playground is expected to be complete this spring.