Walker Rocks Park completes expansion with features for all abilities
ROCK SPRING, Ga. (WDEF) – The Walker Rocks Park expansion at the Walker County Civic Center is now officially open to the public.
This project was designed to make the playground more inclusive and engaging for children of all abilities.
Joe Legge, Director of Communications and Community Development, said the upgrades are part of a broader effort to invest in outdoor spaces and community wellness.
One young boy, excited to explore the new additions, shouted, “I’m ready for the park!”
Here in Rock Spring, the park’s opening drew crowds of smiling families eager to try the new features.
Joe Legge explained the community’s role in shaping the project.
He said, “Originally when we were looking at this final phase, we had some vertical climbing structures and decided that those probably were not going to be able to be used by everybody. We really asked for more community feedback on some of the features that they would like to see, especially those who had disabilities, and what we came up with, we felt like was a pretty good mix of ground level features that kids of all abilities would be able to use.”
Among the new features are innovative play options designed for inclusivity.
Legge highlighted, “We have a sensory station, a sensory summit roundabout, and that’s a climbing feature for children of all abilities, but especially those that have issues with mobility with their legs. They can actually climb and use a roundabout. So, it’s a special feature for them. We have an inclusive whorl, a rocker, and a few other things.”
Parents shared their appreciation for the spacious playground.
Devan Bryant, visiting the playground with her children, said, “There’s many, many benches that you can sit on, and you can see your kids from a lot of different angles. So, if you just want to sit down and get some work done while you’re here, you can do that. If you want to play with them, you can do that as well. Before I was eight months pregnant, I was able to climb up through here.”
The park will be open daily from dawn to dusk.
Amenities include a pavilion for shade and on-site restrooms for visitor convenience.
Looking ahead, the Director of Community Development confirmed plans for a splash pad.
While no construction date has been set, he said it is something the county looks forward to introducing in the future.
As one little girl put it with a smile, “Thank you for the park!”
