CHICAGO — City leaders, community members, and representatives from the Obama Foundation gathered Monday to celebrate the opening of Chicago’s first fully inclusive playground, a landmark project designed to ensure people of all abilities can play, learn, and connect together, according to Fox 32 Chicago.
Located at Midway Plaisance Park in Hyde Park, the 21,000-square-foot playground was built with accessibility at the center of its design. The $4 million project was funded entirely by the Obama Foundation and was specifically engineered to exceed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements.
The opening marks a significant milestone for Chicago, where more than 520,000 residents live with a disability. While the Chicago Park District operates more than 150 accessible playgrounds, officials said this is the first playground in the city’s history intentionally designed to be fully inclusive, allowing children and adults of all abilities to use the same equipment side by side.
The playground features adaptive play structures, accessible pathways, sensory elements, and equipment designed to accommodate a wide range of physical, developmental, and sensory needs. Advocates say inclusive spaces like this help remove barriers and create opportunities for all children to interact, build friendships, and enjoy recreational activities together.
Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett, who grew up near the park, said the project fulfills a promise the foundation made to the surrounding community years ago.
“We’ve been proud to support the right of all children to have a fun place to play,” Jarrett said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The playground’s debut comes just days before the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, which is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the South Side each year. Supporters hope the new playground will not only serve local families but also stand as a lasting symbol of inclusion and accessibility for visitors from across Chicago and beyond.
Officials say the project sets a new standard for future park developments and demonstrates what is possible when communities prioritize equitable access to public spaces.
