Inclusive playground open at Cy Hewit Park in Seville

SEVILLE — The village came together to celebrate its inclusive playground opening at Cy Hewit Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday. Cy Hewit Park is at 54 Liberty St. Seville Parks and Streets Superintendent Jace Manges said what occupied the space before was an old wooden playground that was deteriorating. State Rep. Sharon Ray, R-Wadsworth, helped secure a $250,000 Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant for the village to construct a new playground in its place. Manges said Seville began tearing down the original structure in July, and the structure was complete and ready to go around the end of September. "I'm pleased with how everything turned out and with everybody that was able to help make everything possible for this to happen," he said. "That includes my guys that I work with all the way up to the staff up in the office that helped make this all possible." The new playground is fully Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, Manges said. The gravel by the playground has been replaced with a rubber poured-in-place surface, which is easier to move on and creates a softer landing for kids playing. "People in wheelchairs can access this," he said. "They can go up on any part of the playground and enjoy it all." Kids can also play on the "lunar leap" structure next to the playground, which is a metal sphere with bars on all sides for climbing. There are sensory features alongside the playground as well. Manges said the intention behind the playground was to create an environment where no one feels left out. "My goal is for all families to enjoy all this, and everything we have to offer to them as far as all the different types of equipment that we have set up," he said. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.