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New playground in Columbia Co. is for all types of kids

Posted: 8:24 PM Feb 5, 2013
Reporter: Jorge Lopez

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News 12 at 11 o'clock / Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013

EVANS, Ga. (WRDW) -- A new playground in Columbia County is making a lot more kids smile.

The park is next to the main library off of Evans Town Center Boulevard, and the one thing that makes the park different is that all kinds of kids can enjoy it.

Justin Salter's life has been surrounded with modifications. A modified van, a modified wheelchair and a special computer to help him communicate. Now, Justin has a modified playground, with a swing set and a sway fun, which is a see-saw, where he can play with his friends.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was Tuesday afternoon. However, kids started using it almost a week ago.

Justin isn't the only one excited about the playground -- 13-year-old Abbey Huges thinks it's pretty awesome!

"I like it! There's monkey bars we can actually use!" she said.

Monkey bars aren't the only accommodation at this playground. Swing sets, padded pathways, and yes, the sway fun can be used by both kids with abilities and disabilities and that's what is most important to Abbey.

"Because we can actually play on it now," she said.

Heloise Salter, Justin's mother, says this playground helps Justin feel like he's part of the gang.

"For them to be able to come swing and play with the other kids, with no disabilities, typical children, it means the world to them," Salter said.

The Columbia County School System has 1,500 special needs students, 400 of them with physical disabilities. In other words, those swings are going to make a lot of kids happy!