Officials and children on Tuesday celebrated the second expansion of the City of Round Rock’s Play for All Park. 

Round Rock City Council members joined representatives of Play for All Foundation, waste disposal company Republic Services, playground equipment specialist Whirlix Design and others in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly constructed sustainability-themed play pod in the park.  

“This is an exciting day for Round Rock,” said Round Rock Mayor Pro Tem Kristin Stevens, “and another meaningful step in the continued growth of a park that has brought joy, connection and inclusive play to children and families since it opened in 2012.” 

The ceremonial event in the southwest portion of Play for All Park, at 151 N. A.W. Grimes Blvd., was quickly followed by the cheerful shouts of children as they eagerly tried out the equipment that morning.  

In December, City Council members unanimously approved an agreement with Whirlix Design for the purchase and installation of play equipment for the play pod. Funding came from a $250,000 grant from the Republic Services Charitable Foundation to the Play for All Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that has been involved in fundraising for the park since its inception.  

“The Play for All Park has always been a special place,” said Play for All Foundation President Lee Buckland. “It stands as a model of inclusion, where children of all abilities can play side-by-side, where families feel welcomed, and where every child has the chance to experience joy, imagination and connection without barriers. 

“The new Sustainability Pod builds on that mission in such a powerful way.” 

The remaining funds for the $536,468 project came from the voter-approved 2023 general obligation bond package.   

Republic Services currently provides trash and recycling services to City of Round Rock customers. The new pod will include educational play features, including a recycling truck slide with sorting lanes designed to teach children about recycling, renewable energy and sustainability. The project also includes a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round with educational graphics. 

Play for All Park opened in 2012 but quickly proved to be one of the City’s most popular outdoor spots, leading to an initial expansion in 2017. At that time, local businesses, service clubs and citizens partnered with the Play for All Foundation to raise nearly $600,000 in cash and approximately $400,000 of in-kind donations toward a $2.25 million 2017 expansion. That $2.25 million effort nearly tripled the park’s size.   

The park was developed with the goal of providing all children, regardless of ability, with the opportunity to play and develop skills in a fun, outdoor environment.   

The City’s Parks and Recreation Department estimates that Play for All Park draws approximately 1,000 visitors per day. It has welcomed over 3 million visitors from across the state since it opened, according to the Play for All Foundation.  

The expansion approved by voters is also expected to include replacement of the 14-year-old Dennis’s Dream Playground, the original all-abilities play area at Play for All Park. The structure is named for Dennis Seymore, whose mobility challenges inspired his father to advocate for an inclusive playground where children of all abilities could play together. 

For more information on the 2023 GO bond package, visit www.roundrocktexas.gov/bond.