Building Bridges Inclusion Park is Indiana’s First All-Inclusive Playscape

Breaking ground in July, Greensburg is now home to Indiana’s first all-inclusive playscape. Building Bridges Inclusion Park is a universally designed, sensory-rich environment that enables all children to develop physically, socially, and emotionally. In an inclusive playscape, children of all abilities can interact with each other and do what all kids want to do: play.

The new area is located within Rebekah Park on Greensburg’s east side. The idea of establishing an inclusion park in Greensburg came to Brendan Bridges (former Greensburg Police Chief, current Greensburg Community School Corporation Public Safety, and Rushville native) in 2019.

Bridges took his young son to Ohio to visit an inclusion park. His son is nonverbal and autistic, and finding a way to release energy while keeping him entertained can be difficult. Throughout the visit to the park, Jaxon, Bridges’ son, interacted with other children and played on the inclusive equipment for hours – which is not something that happens at a traditional style playground.

After returning from the park, Bridges approached then-mayor, Dan Manus, and requested permission to establish an inclusive playground in Greensburg. The project was formally announced in 2020 with further support from Mayor, Joshua Marsh, and the Greensburg City Council.

“We are excited to see this project come to life. Kids of all ages and abilities will have the opportunity to socially interact with others. Decatur County provides many services for children, adults, and families with disabilities, and this is just another amenity we can add that will support total inclusion” says Former Greensburg Police Chief, Brendan Bridges.

Inclusion parks offer communities a different kind of space for children of all intellectual and physical abilities to come together and play. The study of play shows us that playing helps children develop necessary skills. Having a unique and safe place to allow children to grow and interact with each other can be a bright spot in a community. Funds for the park were raised through READI funds and a Patronicity matching grant campaign with CreatINg Spaces, part of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.