WAKE FOREST, NC – The long-awaited opening of Joey McCrea Wiggins Park, formerly known as Taylor Street Park, 416 N. Taylor St., including a new accessible playground and upgraded sprayground, is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, at 7 a.m. The accessible playground will be open daily from dawn to dusk, while the sprayground will be open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays, 1-8 p.m.
In April, the Board of Commissioners voted to rename Taylor Street Park in honor of Wake Forest native and former Wake Forest Police Officer Joey McCrea Wiggins who passed away in August 2006.
The Wake Forest Police Department donated $200,000 of the $730,000 total cost of the new accessible playground and sprayground upgrades using funds raised over the past 20 years through golf tournaments, car shows, and other fundraising initiatives. Park visitors will notice that several pieces of new playground equipment have a police theme in recognition of the WFPD’s contribution.
The new accessible playground’s thoughtful design includes accommodations for wheelchair users to entrances and benches, accessibility enhancements to walkways, and a perimeter fence for added safety. The playground also boasts a rubber surface that provides a smooth, wheelchair-friendly terrain allowing easy navigation for individuals with assistive devices. With ramps seamlessly integrated into slides and other elements, children of all abilities can experience the joy of sliding down and participating in various activities.
The playground equipment was carefully chosen and adapted to cater to those with sensory issues, ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone. Among its many features, the new playground offers:
- Aspire Tower with Rope Tunnel
- Custom Communication Panel
- Sign Language Panel
- Panel with Brail
- ADA Ramps
- Sensory Playful Bench
- Orb Rocker
- 360 Loop Climber and Slide
- Custom Police Car
- Custom Police Station Playhouse
- Custom Police Photo Panel
- Innova Rocker
- Eko Climbers
- 144” Cobra Tunnel Slide
- Nido Spinner
- Hypar Shades
- Freedom & Konnection Swing Seats
The upgraded sprayground features a new slip-resistant rubber surface that provides a safe cushion for users, along with new helicon-butterflies and a cascade loop. With each flutter, the butterflies release a gentle mist of water below, while the cascade loop encourages collaborative play by allowing many children to enjoy a variety of game opportunities at the same time thanks to a combination of various water effects.
The total cost of the sprayground upgrades was just under $75,000.
For more information about the Joey McCrea Wiggins Park, visit wakeforestnc.gov or email PRCR Director Ruben Wall at rwall@wakeforestnc.gov.