The Most Inclusive Playground In Kentucky Is Incredible
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published October 30, 2023
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
If there’s one thing that belongs to everybody, it’s play! The folks at Wendell Foster in Owensboro, Kentucky, ensure that safe, engaging recreation is accessible to everyone at their Sensory Park and Garden. This remarkable refuge for fun may be the most inclusive playground in Kentucky, and the surrounding community makes for a delightful in-state getaway.
Among other things, Owensboro has earned a reputation for serving some of the best burgoo for miles. Located along a curl of the beautiful Ohio River, this Bluegrass State gem packs a city's worth of character and entertainment within its quaint town limits.
But easily, one of the most unique feathers in Owensboro's cap is the Sensory Park and Garden at Wendell Foster. This nonprofit is devoted to supporting individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, providing an array of services, including outpatient therapy, community and residential living, transportation, and various support programs. From its inception, the Sensory Park and Garden has been one of the organization's most ambitious amenities.
Located on 1.7 acres, the park is a safe, engaging space for children of all ages and abilities to imagine and play. Places like the Sensory Park and Garden are painfully rare. In fact, Wendell Foster's park is the only universally-accessible park in the area.
Because of this, Wendell Foster works to make the park accessible financially, too. The park is open free of charge to the public during daylight hours, meaning families can enjoy the state-of-the-art play structures at no cost besides the gas to get there.
Between bursts of play, visitors can relax beneath multi-colored sun shades. Thoughtful additions like these mean that children and adults can enjoy the park year-round.
The Sensory Park and Garden represents Wendell Foster's commitment to accessibility and inclusive play. Imagination and creativity are universal joys, and spaces like this ensure that everyone can get in on the fun.
The Sensory Park and Garden in Owensboro may be the most inclusive playground in Kentucky. It’s also a reflection of Wendell Foster’s devotion to their cause. No matter your age or ability, play belongs to everybody, which is why we at Only In Your State think accessible spaces like these are so important.
