Photo by Emma Delk The Wheeling Park playground will remain closed until the "late spring or early summer" for the updates, according to Oglebay Marketing Director Wendy Hodorowski.

Swings, slides and monkey bars have been torn down to make way for upgrades that will turn the Wheeling Park playground into the largest and most inclusive ever built in the state.

The updated space will be a National Demonstration Site for Inclusion, meaning the “newest and greatest” products in inclusive playing will be rolled out at the park for the local community to try, according to Oglebay Foundation CEO Eriks Janelsins.

Features of the new playground focused on accessibility include a sensory wave ramp, interactive educational panels, shaded gathering spaces, quiet decompression areas, braille panels, rock climbers and musical instruments.

The title of a National Demonstration Site for Inclusion is granted by commercial playground equipment manufacturer GameTime. Wheeling Park has become one of the company’s premier playgrounds. As part of the distinction, a series of surveys will be performed by the company to determine how guests use and respond to new activities at the site.

Noting that Wheeling Park playground was already the largest playground in Wheeling, Janelsins is excited that the space will “help improve other playgrounds and communities across the country.”

“I think it really speaks to the Wheeling Park Commission leadership when it comes to getting kids outside in safe and happy places,” he noted.

On top of new activities added to reach inclusion goals, classic features such as rockers, climbers and swings will be designed to be accessible and enjoyable.

The idea to incorporate more inclusive elements into park updates “developed over time” said Oglebay CEO Bob Peckenpaugh. He explained that when bids for the playgrounds went out “two primary players came to the table and really sparked a lot of these conversations.”

“I think the majority of feedback we’ve read on the internet regarding the project so far is that people understand the purpose of the updates,” he said. “I think a common question on social media is ‘What do you mean by inclusive?’ That will be answered over the next couple months as we start talking more about the elements of the playground and the public will be put up to speed on all the new features of the park.”

A dedicated parking lot located on the National Road side of the park will be another new inclusive feature. The addition will allow better access to the park for people with disabilities by having an open path to the playground.

Increasing safety at the park was also taken into account during the redesign. A 3.5-inch turf-top will be added to replace the park’s asphalt surface.

The updates will not impede use of the mini golf course. Peckenpaugh added that a future goal for the park is to “get in there and do some work as well.”

The other main goal of the updates is to incorporate nature into the play space. The maintenance and landscaping of the area will be given attention to “ensure a well-maintained and visually appealing playground for everyone to enjoy,” said Marketing Director Wendy Hodorowski.

An exact timeframe has not been determined yet for the project. Hodorowski estimated the playground will be completed in late spring or early summer.

The $1.2 million renovations will be funded by the support of the Land & Water Conservation Fund, the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and the Stamp family.

Janelsins gave special thanks to Joanne and Fred Stamp, as they were a “major driver behind the scenes” to make the updates happen.

To be able to provide major inclusive updates to the park before Oglebay turns 100 years old next year is also a major highlight of the project for Oglebay officials.

“The most important thing we do is provide a place for the community to celebrate and be active,” said Janelsins. “If we’re going to celebrate 100 years, we want that playground to really be a point of pride for the entire community.”

On top of the playground, updates are also underway at other Oglebay locations. Another major project initiated in January is updates to Wilson Lodge’s entrance, lobby and dining establishments.