CLAYTON — The City of Clayton is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. at Northview Park for the grand opening of its new all-inclusive playground.

This playground, funded with the assistance of a Community Development Block Grant via Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and Federal ARPA funds, provides the first all-inclusive playground in northwestern Montgomery County.

Community families are also now able to access the playground via the new ADA compliant parking lot and widened multi-use paths which were partially funded using a Nature Works grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

The newly widened and resurfaced path system connects the parking lot with the shelter area and all-inclusive playground area, ensuring all children and family members, no matter their ability level and use of adaptive equipment, can access the park’s amenity spaces.

This all-inclusive project was included in the Clayton Parks Advisory Commission’s five-year project list enhancing Clayton’s overall park system.

Community feedback during the PLAN Clayton Comprehensive Land Use update, and the plan’s actual implementation plan document, included specific improvements to the park system, including making it more inclusive for the entire community.

Clayton City Council approved an almost $500,000 Five Year CIP budget in 2019 to assist in overall park improvements across the Clayton region.

The new all-inclusive playground has a soft, state-of-the-art, all weather surface accommodating all assistance devises such as wheelchairs and walkers.

The playground area has a ramp going through it providing easy access to all the equipment’s various sensory boards and other features. A “quiet garden” area is also available for children and others with various neurological diagnoses.

Mayor Mike Stevens will provide comments prior to the ribbon cutting ceremony. Students and families from the Northmont City School District’s special needs program are also invited to attend the event to check out the new equipment and recreation area.

Northview Park is located at the end of Lavon Court in Clayton. Media members are asked to park on the street to allow for the parking lot to be used for families with children with adaptive equipment.

For more information about Northview Park and its location, please go to: https://bit.ly/3tB3Siz.