Universal playground comments to be taken

Spokane Valley city officials will take public comments on plans for a children’s “universal” playground Monday night.

The meeting, on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, will be at 6:30 p.m. at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place.

Final plans for the park – designed to accommodate various disabilities – will be presented to the City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave.

The universal playground is to be just south of the CenterPlace community center in Mirabeau Point Park. City officials say the site was chosen in part because of its proximity to CenterPlace as well as the Children’s Home Society, the YMCA and state Fish and Wildlife offices.

A consulting firm, Eco Plan & Design Concepts, designed the playground with advice from several local organizations and public comments at a series of meetings last year.

The playground is called “universal” because it must appeal to people of all abilities and ages. Aside from being accessible, it will feature developmental learning and rehabilitation activities.

The state Legislature put up $800,000 for the project in 2007, to be matched with $200,000 of city money.