Fundraising continues to build inclusive playground at Tuscora Park
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Feb. 2, 2026) — Tuscora Park is closer to getting its new inclusive playground, thanks to the efforts of New Philadelphia teacher Preston Cornell, who is spearheading the project.
Wanting to honor her late mother, Cornell began looking for ways to enhance the park and identified a major need: accessible play equipment.
The planned playground is designed to be inclusive for children of all ages and abilities. It will feature a smooth, mobility-friendly surface that can be easily navigated by children using wheelchairs or walkers, as well as caregivers.
Plans for the playground include a modern, mobility-friendly area with a signing board, a serenity spot designed for children with autism, a musical garden, and multiple handicap-accessible play structures. These include swings, a zipline, an orbit, and a slide.
The playground will be located behind the park’s putt-putt course, near the Ferris wheel and the pavilions. Cornell estimates it will take up to a month to install the new equipment once the site is ready.
She has been working closely with the City of New Philadelphia, the New Philadelphia Park Board, and other partners to move the project forward. If funding goals are met, new play equipment and surfacing are expected to be installed this spring, with site work having begun in the fall.
Cornell hopes the playground will be completed as soon as weather permits, with the more realistic goal of having it ready by Memorial Day weekend, when the park’s rides and concession stand open for the season.
Fundraising efforts are ongoing, with a target goal of $500,000. Donations can be made to the Tuscora Park Foundation, with check or cash contributions accepted at the park office.
Cornell says community support has been overwhelming so far, noting significant donations from individual community members, as well as major contributions from the Rainbow Connection and the Reeves Foundation.
“I just appreciate all of the support thus far,” Cornell said. “I hope everyone can help us rally together to really get it to the finish line here.”
You can follow along for updates on the inclusive playground on the group’s Facebook page.