Woodforest Celebrates Opening of Wallaroo Park Oct. 26

Woodforest will celebrate the opening of a new, interactive and fully accessible playground from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26

Wallaroo Park, located in the community’s Deerbourne Ridge neighborhood, features an interactive Sona Play Arch, ADA-accessible play equipment and a layout that is easy for children with disabilities to maneuver. Normally only for residents of Woodforest, the park will be open to the public during this sneak-peek event.

“We are the first community in the United States to incorporate a Sona Play Arch within a playground,” said Virgil Yoakum, vice president and general manager of Woodforest. “We are very excited about it because it offers an amazing interactive experience that all children can enjoy.”

The public is invited to test out the play equipment while enjoying snow cones, a DJ, popcorn and lemonade at the free event. Event-goers also will be able to pet two kangaroos at the park that day.

Developed by Yalp, the Sona Play Arch employs smart camera technology to measure the movements of those playing games using sound and movement.

The 12.5-foot tall, 16.4-foot structure is anchored by a play floor that features colors and numbers used in the interactive technology, all of which have increasingly difficult levels of play. Because of its size, the Sona Play Arch can also accommodate children in wheelchairs and is developed to be accessible for children with mental and physical disabilities.

Players can choose from a number of interactive games with just the push of a button. It has been installed in more than 300 locations worldwide, including public park spaces, shopping malls and health centers.

The 1-acre park also features an accessible slide, spinner play pieces and LED ribbons that serve as water misters. A water bubbler with seating is a centerpiece of a central play area that also will include bird’s nest and spider web play pieces. Further play is encouraged by a lemongrass climbing wall play set and log trunk berm climbing play pieces, a swing set, seat walls and an open lawn.

Wallaroo Park is one of many parks and playgrounds found throughout the South Montgomery community. In January, Woodforest also opened the Stampede Sportsplex which includes three lighted soccer fields. Upcoming enhancements will include an ADA playground, as well as a lighted basketball court, a concession building with restrooms and a lighted parking lot.

For more information about Wallaroo Park and Woodforest, visit www.woodforesttx.com