Olathe will build an inclusive playground at Two Trails Park after the City Council unanimously approved $750,000 in park sales tax money for the project.

The vote, taken at the council's Tuesday, Nov. 3 meeting, pairs the city's contribution with a $3 million grant from Variety KC, a nonprofit that supports children with disabilities, according to the Johnson County Post. The city is covering 20% of the project's cost, KCTV5 reported.

City Engineer Nate Baldwin presented the plan to the council. The playground will include accessible pathways, rubberized safety surfacing, ramps, activity stations and sensory play areas, according to the Johnson County Post.

"These playground elements create safe, equitable and engaging spaces for people of all ages and physical, sensory and cognitive abilities," Baldwin said, according to the Johnson County Post.

The project goes beyond playground equipment. Restrooms, lighting, landscaping and parking improvements are also part of the scope. The existing park shelter and benches may be modified.

Two Trails Park sits at the corner of Ridgeview and Kansas City Road, according to the Olathe Reporter. Variety KC chose the park for its central location and existing amenities, including ball fields, a skate park and a large shelter, KCTV5 reported.

Construction is expected to begin in summer 2027, with the playground opening in spring 2028, according to the Johnson County Post. A final design has not been completed. Baldwin showed council members examples from other Variety KC playgrounds during the Nov. 3 meeting.

Variety KC will oversee design and construction. Baldwin told the council the city remains a partner throughout the process.

The grant is part of Variety KC's Ten Parks Project, which aims to build inclusive play spaces in 10 cities across the Kansas City metro, backed by a $30 million commitment. Two Trails Park is the third site selected, joining Roy Blunt Luminary Park in Kansas City, Missouri, and Joe D. Dennis Park in Westwood, Kansas.

Councilmember LeEtta Felter praised the project during the Nov. 3 discussion. "It just is on brand and who we are at heart," she said, according to the Johnson County Post.

Olathe already has an accessible playground at Black Bob Park. Variety KC also helped create a playground and baseball field at Olathe's College Boulevard Activity Center.

The final design and a specific groundbreaking date have not been announced.