Mebane opens upgraded playground at Kate’s Farm Park with inclusive features

MEBANE, N.C. — The City of Mebane and Impact Alamance on Saturday celebrated the completion of upgrades to the playground at Kate’s Farm Park, which the city says officially opened April 2.

"Citizens of Mebane, we're excited to welcome you back to Kate's Farm Park Playground," said Erin, the event emcee identified by first name only in the transcript, announcing that finishing touches were complete and the playground is open to the public.

The upgrades add five new play towers (including a second cargo net), a "push swing" described by staff as an inclusive, zip-line-style swing, two new swings including a "mommy-and-me" harness swing, two additional slides and a dedicated area for children ages 2–5.

"What you see here today is a direct reflection of those voices," said Marcy Green of Impact Alamance, the local health foundation that partnered with the city on the project. Green said the foundation has worked with the city for more than a decade on projects that provide free public spaces for exercise, fresh air and community connection, and that this expansion incorporated feedback from parents of children with different abilities.

Park superintendent Cy Ullman led a walk-through of the new equipment and described safety and accessibility features. "Make sure you strap them in properly so everybody's safe," Ullman said when demonstrating the harness swing. He also pointed to installed accessibility mats and new balancing pillars designed to improve access for all users, and invited visitors to try the cargo net, cargo boardwalk and the park's tallest slide.

City and nonprofit leaders thanked community members and the Mebane City Council for supporting the project and encouraged families to visit the playground.

The playground is open to the public; the city and partners encouraged attendees to "come out, explore, laugh, play, and make new memories."