(David Gomez, News Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News)
Odessa, Texas/April 11, 2026-The Odessa Family YMCA will soon unveil the all-inclusive Playground at Mike Neeley Park. Danny Barrera has the story.
The Odessa Family YMCA has unveiled a new, modern playground designed with inclusion, safety, and fun in mind for all children. The upgraded space places a strong emphasis on accommodating children with disabilities, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to play, explore, and interact in a welcoming environment.
(Royal McGregor, Public Relations and Communications Director -Odessa Family YMCA/Odessa, Texas)
‘The playground had been in need of renovation for a while, and we wanted to build something that was going to be inclusive for for everybody, no matter if they were in a wheelchair or if they were able bodied, whatever it was. We wanted to make sure that everybody, um, in our new playground, um, had, um, the ability to play on it and to make something like that for the community is, is incredibly special.’
Funding for the new playground came from a combination of grants awarded by several organizations, along with generous donations from local businesses, community groups, and individual supporters who recognized the importance of creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging space for children of all abilities.
(Royal McGregor, Public Relations and Communications Director-Odessa Family YMCA/Odessa, Texas)
“Was two hundred and sixty-six thousand. A majority of the funding came from grants. The other part of the funding came from donations from businesses, private donations, everything like that. Um, last week we were at about twenty-two thousand that was left um, but we got a few donations in since then. So, um, I believe we’re somewhere under, under twenty right now.”
“We do have the, uh, wheelchair, um, uh, merry go wall that has slots if you’re in a wheelchair. Um, we do have musical instruments, so we have drums and then a xylophone, and then we also have, uh, shaded seating areas. Um, there’s one here, here, and then there’s one, uh, behind the structure as well. And then the flooring is, um, uh, like a soft rubber. Um, it is springy. Um, so it’s easier on us kids if, um, they’re in a wheelchair or they’re running, let’s say they fall down. Um, but it’s easier, um, on them, uh, with, with that flooring.”
A special ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the playground inside Mike Neeley Park, located across from the YMCA, followed by the annual Healthy Kids Day event on Saturday, April 18th.
(Royal McGregor, Public Relations and Communications Director-Odessa Family YMCA/Odessa, Texas)
For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.
(David Gomez, News Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News)
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