We are asking the Kansas City to create or retrofit at least one public playground into a fully fenced, all-abilities, sensory-friendly play space for children who need a safer environment to play.

Many autistic children and children with developmental disabilities elope, meaning they may run away suddenly without understanding danger. For families with more than one young child, especially children who are non-speaking or have limited safety awareness, unfenced playgrounds can become unsafe very quickly.

A fully enclosed playground with secure gated entry would allow more families to safely use Kansas parks. This would benefit autistic children, toddlers, children with developmental delays, children with mobility needs, and caregivers who need clear sightlines and a controlled exit point.

We are requesting that the city prioritize a playground with:

-Full perimeter fencing around the play area
-A secure child-resistant gate/latch
-Accessible rubber or smooth surfacing
-Sensory-friendly play features
-A quiet/calming area
-Inclusive swings and equipment
-Shaded seating with clear caregiver visibility
-A communication board for non-speaking children
-Public parks should be accessible to all families.

 Right now, many families in the Kansas City area cannot safely use local playgrounds because they are not fully enclosed. For children who elope, an open playground can become dangerous within seconds. We ask Kansas City Parks & Recreation, local parks departments, city leaders, and community partners to make fully fenced, all-abilities playgrounds a priority across the Kansas City metro.