PEORIA, AZ — If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, Paloma Community Park is now open in Peoria.
The city says in 2014, they saw a growing demand for a bigger park north of Bell Road.
They spent $40 million on the park’s construction, which includes a fishing lake, a ball field complex, multi-purpose fields, and an inclusive playground.
Adina Lund is the city’s development and engineering director. She says her 10-year-old son David has Down syndrome.
“The dream is always that he would be able to invite his classmates from his special-ed class and the general education class and they could all play together,” Lund said.
So, when plans were in the works to build the new park, she made sure it would have inclusive elements.
“Things at a lower level for people that maybe can’t climb up stairs. We have spinning for people who like that sensation. We have a lot of sensory input,” Lund said. “We even have a communication board for those that have trouble communicating, that they can point to the images and communicate that way.”
The city of Peoria says they’re now working to add inclusive elements to their other parks across the city as well.
The park is located on Lake Pleasant Parkway and Dixileta Drive, south of the Loop 303.
