Young Goshen girl inspires a new accessible playground

GOSHEN, Ind.- A new, inclusive playground in Goshen opened to the public on Thursday.

Kerry’s Kids Playground, located at Hay Park off Plymouth Street, includes ramps, among other special equipment features, to make the park more accessible to all children and residents, regardless of mobility or developmental issues.

Laura Elliot, a special needs student at Goshen High School, proposed the idea in a letter to the mayor after noticing that her friends could not play in the park with her because of disabilities.

 “We have been working on this park for three and a half years,” said Mayor Jeremy Stutsman at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, “and it warms my heart to know that it has been completed.”

Kimberlee Stephens, Recreational Director for Goshen Parks and Recreation, said, “We have braille, a merry-go-round for kids that have mobility disabilities. In face we had a little boy in there playing on it and he was so excited. He said, ‘I’ve never been able to go on a merry-go-round.’ So it was very heartwarming to watch.”

Elliot and her family were honored with a bench plaque, which was dedicated in memory of Elliot’s father who died during the planning process.