Hurricane to break ground on all

Outfitted with things like high-back swings, double-wide slides, sensory-based equipment and wheelchair-accessible ramps and soft floors, a new park in Hurricane is aimed to provide fun for kids of "all abilities."

The new Hurricane All-Abilities Park would be located at Dixie Springs Park and subdivision, adjacent to Sand Hollow State Park and reservoir. A public groundbreaking ceremony was set for Friday, with computer-modeled visualizations showcasing how the park would look when it opens later this year.

It would be the second "all-abilities" park in southwestern Utah, joining St. George's popular Thunder Junction All-Abilities Park, built specifically to accommodate children with disabilities and anyone else with special needs.

Such parks have become more common in recent years, designed so children who have trouble playing at traditional playgrounds can experience some of the same social, physical and emotional benefits attributed to outdoor play.

Planners estimated the park would cost about a half-million dollars when they received city approval last fall, and they have been collecting money from private donations while setting aside funds from a sales tax levy that goes toward recreation facilities. One company, Matt's Off-Road Recovery, which operates a popular Youtube page, donated more than $100,000 toward the project.

More information about the park and other Hurricane projects is available online at cityofhurricane.com.