Largest Inclusive Playground in America-Family’s Dream Became Reality

Possibility Playground in Corydon, IN, started as one family’s dream – to create a place for their son and others like him to play. This is their story, as told by dad, Joshua Bowen:

One of our favorite things to do as a family, even before Max was born, is to go camping. We enjoy the state and county parks in our area.

Our kids would ride bikes, play on playgrounds with each other, and meet other kids. They had several camp friends they would play with when we camped.

Max is the youngest of our three kids. He was born in 2007. Max could not walk or even sit up without support.

When our kids went to the playground, my wife or I would stay at the camper with Max. Sometimes, our kids would have to go without us, and we’d watch them from a distance because Max needed more help than one of us could give.

I remember talking to Larry Shickles, the park’s superintendent, and begging him to get a wheelchair swing. We even offered to pay for it but were told the liability insurance would increase. I kept attending local park board meetings, asking for a play area where all my kids could play together.

Good News Finally Came!

Finally, in 2019, Larry said he had some ideas and local support for some sort of inclusive playground. WOO HOO! We established a playground advisory board and met a few times to discuss what this area needed to include, and then COVID-19 occurred.

Unfortunately, by the time we could meet again, COVID-19 inflated our cost estimates by nearly 100%. Fortunately, it also provided our county with federal COVID relief money.

We met with 3 playground designers/builders, chose one, and then asked our county government to approve the money to make it a reality. Max and I attended several meetings where we explained what an inclusive playground is and how it’s not a wheelchair playground but a playground for everyone to access and enjoy.

We were given the green light in 2022 and broke ground in February 2023 with a planned opening in July 2023. Unfortunately, supply chain issues delayed us again, but we finally held the grand opening in October 2023.

Our family attended a sneak preview, and there were tears of happiness.

Since then, Max has visited the playground nearly 100 times. He loves having a place where he can go with us and have fun with other kids.

The playground gives him something to look forward to, a place to interact with others, and a chance for kids to see that Max can be a cool kid to be around.

Here are some more details about the park as provided by the Parks Department:

Possibility Playground, located inside Hayswood Nature Reserve in Corydon, Indiana, is one of the newest attractions to Harrison County. Built with the dream of a place where children of all abilities could have a place to play, learn, and enjoy themselves, it is now a reality.

This was a five-year project, starting with basic discussions and ending with the grand opening on October 22nd, 2023.

Following the guidelines set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a playground with 18 different slides, swings, climbing equipment, wheelchair-accessible picnic tables, and more creates an amazing facility for children of all ages and abilities.

Possibility Playground was the dream of a local Harrison County Family looking for a place for their son, who uses a wheelchair, to play on the same equipment as his friends. Working with the Harrison County Parks Department, their dream came true.

Enjoyment for All

Possibility Playground is a world-class playground, and not because of its size (32,000 square feet). It’s because ALL kids, their parents, and grandparents enjoy it.

As Seen on the cover of Parenting Special Needs Magazine 2024

It is priceless to see kids who never had the opportunity to play with their friends on a playground or see parents pushing the child in a safe, properly made swing, merry-go-round, etc., that accommodates their needs.

There are plenty of benches for parents/grandparents to sit and watch while not worrying about their children’s safety. Possibility Playground is 100% enclosed by fencing with one way in and out, and a security camera system is in place; the camera system also watches the parking lot.

Safety is, and always will be, a top priority at Possibility Playground.

Related: Parks offer more than Place to Play

The facility’s five basic rules include:

• No smoking
• Only certified service animals allowed
• Shoes are required
• Follow employee guidance
• Respecting others

The Many Uses of Possibility Playground

Many schools, not just local ones, also use the playground and park for field trips. It provides an excellent place for teachers to let kids unwind and eat lunch after a day of touring Corydon’s historic sites and other attractions.

During the summer months, the playground stays open until 9 pm. The park is always open in the winter, weather permitting, and closes at dusk. Southern Indiana usually has mild winters that offer several days to use the playground.

A new shelter house with updated modern bathrooms and food trucks on site makes spending hours there easy. You can always expect a clean and safe environment when you visit.

Also located inside Hayswood Nature Reserve is the Indian Creek Trail connecting Hayswood Park to downtown Corydon. Indian Creek Trail is an excellent walk with paved paths that are wheelchair-friendly. Best of all, the playground and trail are all FREE!

Possibility Playground in Corydon, Indiana Is the largest Inclusive Playground in America.

Visit: Possibility Playground in Corydon, Indiana, Is the largest Inclusive Playground in America.