BURLINGTON, Ky. — A new playground in northern Kentucky is giving a chance to play to kids who may have missed out in the past. It’s the first ADA-accessible and sensory-friendly playground in Boone County.

Adriana Greene’s kids used to love playing at the playground. When it closed for remodeling, it was a sad day for her family. But now she says the time away was well worth it.

“This is the first time I’m here since it was remodeled. And I love it,” Greene said. “Everything looks new. I love the sensory area. I didn’t know it was an ADA playground, which is awesome.”

The playground includes things like wheelchair accessible slides, braille, hearing-impaired-friendly play equipment and cushiony pour-and-play flooring.

Boone County Parks Director David Whitehouse said the flooring is a lot softer and easier to push a wheelchair on than mulch.

“Anytime we can add something new that encompasses a greater part of our population, it makes me smile,” Whitehouse said. “This is what I get paid to do, and I get to come watch kids smile that maybe have never gone down the slide because they didn’t have an opportunity to do it.”

Moving forward, Whitehouse says more and more Boone County parks will implement accessibility.

Greene said she thinks that will make life a lot better for other parents she knows, and especially their kids.

“That is really good. I’m just thinking of telling everybody, because I have friends that will be very blessed with sensory or ADA parks,” she said. “This will be a great option to come over.”

The playground cost about $350,000. Whitehouse said about half of that cost came from the flooring.