DELAWARE, Ohio — An inclusive playground will be coming to Delaware State Park, themed after a major Ohio sports team.

The playground, funded through the Ohio State Parks Foundation, also includes donations from the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabiliities, through the grant funding from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, Perry's Ice Cream, CSX and a $250,000 grant from the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation.

“We are so grateful for this incredible gift,” said Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz in a news release. “Ohio’s state parks are for everyone, and this playground will ensure that children of all abilities have a safe, fun, and welcoming space to play and explore.”

This is the 14th playground funded by the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation in central Ohio and the first built in partnership with the Ohio State Parks Foundation.

“This new playground is a testament to our shared vision of creating inclusive outdoor spaces,” said former Gov. Bob Taft, founding member and chairman of the Ohio State Parks Foundation board, in a news release. “It reflects what’s possible when communities and organizations come together to make a difference.”

The park will be inclusive, designed with accessibility in mind and themed after the Blue Jackets. There will be sensory equipment, inclusive swings, including a basket swing and ADA swing, and a model of "Stinger," the Blue Jackets mascot that visitors can climb. There will be sensory play structures and slides as well.

Besides the playground, an ADA-compliant restroom and new sidewalks will also be added to ease access.

Construction is set to finish in spring 2025 with a ribbon-cutting event planned to open the new space.