City officials and residents gathered at Abbott Court in Fall River to unveil plans for the city’s first sensory playground, a play space designed for autistic children and their families. Mayor Paul Coogan and Mike Dion, the city’s director of community development, joined a local parent who led the project’s push to present renderings and outline funding and timeline.

Organizers said the project is intended to promote inclusion by giving children on the autism spectrum spaces and sensory panels where they can play alongside other children. Marcel, a Fall River resident and parent who advocated for the project, said, "This is gonna be, more than a park. It's gonna be ... a place that a parent could come and just decompress." Marcel said he hopes the playground will also help children learn from observing peers and that it become a neighborhood hub for families.

Why it matters: Backers said the playground would provide an inclusive public space for children and caregivers who lack private resources, and could draw families to the south-end neighborhood. Mike Dion said the city has prioritized park improvements in recent years and called Abbott Court a central park in a busy neighborhood where an accessible playground would be a draw.

Cost, funding and timeline: Mayor Paul Coogan said, "We're thinking about $600,000." Dion later described a range, saying he believed the mayor had estimated "500 to 600,000." Officials said funding would come from multiple sources including a Community Preservation Act (CPC) grant application, a state park grant, a community development match and private fundraising; they also said they planned organized fundraising events beginning soon. Dion said the project team set up a donation webpage at Mazeplayground.org and a Facebook page tied to the Greater Fall River Recreation nonprofit so donations can be segregated for the playground.

Design and public input: The mayor and organizers displayed architect renderings produced by Stark Architects. Catherine Lopenburg of Stark Architects attended the event, and organizers said they will solicit community input on the design in November or December and may adjust the renderings before final selection. Marcel said he began building sensory panels at home after his daughter’s diagnosis and that the design work included research on existing sensory parks, including Noah’s Place in New Bedford.

Implementation and next steps: Organizers said they aim to begin fundraising over the coming winter and break ground in the spring. They emphasized that the schedule depends on securing grant awards and private donations, and that formal construction cannot begin until necessary funding and approvals are in place. Mayor Coogan and Dion described the project as part of a broader parks capital improvement program that includes other sites in the city.

No formal vote or ordinance was taken at the event. Organizers described the announcement and planning steps; staff said they will pursue grant applications and fundraising but did not present a formal contract or budget appropriation at the event.

Organizers invited public involvement in fundraising and design feedback and said they expect to involve the community as plans proceed.