Kingston families are invited to celebrate the official grand opening of the Jumpstart Inclusive Playground at Shannon Park, 199 Wilson Street, on September 12, 2026. The Kingston Frontenac Public Library will host an information table where attendees can explore inclusive books and learn about library services.
The playground, which officially opened on July 24, 2026, is the city’s first fully inclusive play space designed to welcome children of all abilities. Features include rubber safety surfacing, ramped play structures that let children in wheelchairs access equipment directly, sensory play elements, inclusive swings, a communication board for non-verbal children, and a full fence for safety.
The $1.5 million project was funded by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, the City of Kingston, the Inclusive Play Project, and community donors such as Tim Hortons Kingston, the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund, and the Kinsmen Club of Kingston.
The Inclusive Play Project was started by Rachel Doornekamp, a Kingston pediatric occupational therapist, who saw how local playgrounds often failed to meet the needs of children with special needs. Shannon Park was chosen because it already had some accessible equipment and is close to the Rideau Heights Community Centre.
Since 2017, Jumpstart has built 34 inclusive playgrounds and multi-sport courts across Canada. The Kingston playground is part of that national effort to create spaces where all children can play, connect, and belong.
