A new, all-inclusive playground opened Tuesday in Scotland Neck. 

Trillium Health Resources provided $500,000 to Halifax County for the playground, which is located at 1310 Main Street.

“Trillium is so excited to officially open this playground in Scotland Neck and continue making a positive impact on the community,” said Joy Futrell, Trillium’s CEO. “This playground will help children with disabilities to better enjoy play time with their peers, and family members with disabilities can participate in outside play together. By focusing on the power of play rather than our differences, this park will eliminate the stigma of disabilities.”

Scotland Neck Mayor Eddie Braxton said, “It was a fantastic day for Scotland Neck. We’ve been waiting for this playground to come to fruition for right many months and yesterday was a great day. We had a super large crowd that came out for the dedication and the ribbon-cutting. It was just marvelous. It was a great day.”

The mayor said he hopes the playground will be a draw for the town. “With Sylvan Heights located in the town, everybody that’s coming from the south has to go by that playground. It will give all those children a place to stop and visit.”

The playground, the mayor said, is next to the town’s senior center. “This equipment is heavy enough for any age group to use it. If the seniors want to go over and use some of the equipment out there to exercise — the floor is a rubbery soft floor. It’s just really a state of the art playground.”

Braxton said Trillium’s commitment to the town has been tremendous. “The first time they came by is when they had their mobile center — the bus that they use for mobile stops. They had a ribbon-cutting at the senior citizens center two or three years ago when they first came to the area. It’s just a great thing that we were able to get that playground.”

Halifax County Board of Commissioners Chairman Vernon Bryant said, “I think that Trillium is an amazing partner in bettering the mental well-being of our citizens. With the addition of this inclusive playground Trillium has demonstrated that they care about Halifax County citizens as a whole and not only their mental but their physical health which goes hand in hand in hand.”

Gallery photos by Christina Wells | Halifax County government

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Bryant said, “I think parents, grandparents and caretakers need to realize that playtime is not optional for children. Playtime is a necessity. You have to get kids up and moving and this is a way to do it. We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

GameTime, the recreation and playground installer selected for the project, uses research-based programs and education to deliver the most tailored play and recreation environments.

Equipment includes a rubber surface to allow for smooth transport with wheelchairs, doublewide ramps to access slides and other elements, and equipment that will appeal to children with sensory issues. 

The playground will provide an opportunity for individuals of all ages and abilities to play together outside, Trillium said.

Trillium first offered these grants in 2015, and has since constructed 33 playgrounds across its region. 

Each location received a grant amount appropriate for the scope of work and land space allocated for developing or updating a playground.