Salem's first inclusive playground opens in September at Riverfront Park

Salem families who need accessible outdoor play spaces are getting one downtown.

Riverfront Park's rebuilt playground will open by the end of September with wheelchair-friendly turf, a low-sensory zone and equipment shaped by feedback from families of children with disabilities.

The $2.5 million project replaces a 28-year-old playground that closed for construction April 13. It's a first for Salem: a play space designed from the ground up for children of all abilities. City spokeswoman Kathy Ursprung confirmed the cost estimate and timeline earlier this year when construction began.

What families told the city

City staff sought input from Salem families who need inclusive options before finalizing the design, according to a city announcement published Tuesday. That feedback produced several features uncommon in local parks:

Eagle's Nest: A quieter, low-sensory zone for children who need a break from stimulation.
Accessible spinner and music station: Equipment usable from a wheelchair.
Full perimeter fencing: An enclosed play area for families whose children need a contained space.
Specialized synthetic turf: Reduces static electricity that can interfere with cochlear implants, and provides a smoother surface for wheelchair users.
Rolling bars on one slide and smooth paved pathways, including an extra-wide bridge to the second level of the main play structure.

Multiple seating areas for caregivers and new shade trees surround the space.

Nature theme, real boulders

The playground's design draws on local wildlife and watershed imagery. A climbing structure built from logs is called the Beaver Dam. The synthetic turf uses color variations to suggest a watershed, and pavement circles at the entryway feature animal-motif riddles pointing visitors to matching images inside the playground.

The site also includes Salem's first "rock scramble," using real natural boulders, a feature envisioned in the park's 2019 improvement plan.

How it's funded

Salem-based Dalke Construction is the general contractor. Its $2.4 million bid came in about $600,000 under the city's $3 million estimate. Much of the commercial-grade equipment was sourced from Salem vendor Park N Play Northwest, which gave a discount of more than $46,500 as a community gift.

Timeline and access

A soft opening is planned for early September, with a larger grand opening to follow, according to Statesman Journal reporting. During construction, the Riverfront Carousel, splash pad and Rotary Pavilion remain open.

A new 12-foot-wide path now arcs around the playground through the South Meadow, rerouting the popular multi-use trail to reduce conflicts between playground users and path traffic.

Riverfront Park is one of 24 city parks receiving upgrades through the 2022 bond. The project also includes electrical improvements throughout the park to better support community events and the annual holiday light display.