Universal playground coming to county

Disabled children will soon climb, swing and slide with their able-bodied peers on Baltimore County?s first “universal” playground, slated to open in Owings Mills this fall, officials announced.

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith on Monday presented a check for $81,300 to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore, more than half the funds needed to complete the $150,000 playground planned there, center officials said. At least 70 percent of the playground will be designed to accommodate children with mental and physical disabilities but still challenge able-bodied children ? who won?t notice the differences from typical jungle gyms.