New Pierce County playground has music equipment and a design for inclusive play
Bonney Lake is getting its first accessible playground.
According to the city’s website, the Allan Yorke Playground – which is at Allan Yorke Park, Ballfield 5 at 7203 West Tapps Highway – is set to open during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 6 at 10 a.m.
Leslie Harris, assistant to the city administrator, told The News Tribune the playground will have slides, a swing set, a seesaw and music equipment.
“They will be able to climb, jump, slide and play,” Harris said.
The playground will be next to an existing multi-sport turf field. Restrooms and a water fountain are already onsite.
The city first received a grant in 2018 to buy playground equipment, the website says. They were originally planning to install the new playground in 2023 when they finished constructing Ballfield 5, but had to put it off because of a lack of funding.
“With significant rising costs, city staff had to explore options to secure additional funding,” the website said. “With the support of Rep. [Drew] Stokesbary and Rep. [Eric] Robertson, the city was successfully awarded the remaining funds needed to install the playground from the state Legislature in the 2024-2025 budget.”
Harris said it cost the city roughly $230,000 to install the equipment.
The playground will be the first accessible one in Bonney Lake, following the Americans with Disabilities Act. Harris said ADA-accessible features include:
- A ramp for children using mobility devices
- A RoxAll see-saw with “seats that easily transfer children onto the ride.”
- Swings that allow both the child and the caretaker to swing together
- Tiles that will “allow ease of moving around the playground”
