Staff photo by Clay Schuldt The new German Park playground was ready for kids on Friday afternoon.

NEW ULM–The new German Park Inclusive Playground was up and running as of Friday afternoon.

The last step of construction was pouring the rubberized surface for the playground. Workers began pouring the surfacing over Memorial Day Weekend. Multiple layers were poured in place and allowed to cure for a few days.

Park and Recreation Director Tom Schmitz said the playground was ready Friday afternoon, but visitors are required to use the shelter entrance to the park. Construction crews are still working on the cement pathway to the second entrance. In addition, the playground fence is surrounded by loose dirt and mud. Visitors to the park are asked to stay clear of the open soil. In the next few days the dirt will be hydro-seeded.

This is the second inclusive playground built in New Ulm. The first is located in Hermann Park. Both playgrounds feature the rubber poured-in-surface and several inclusive playground items.

Inclusive playgrounds feature equipment for all available age groups and abilities. Some of the equipment can even be used by adults alongside their children.

The German Park Playground is similar to the Hermann Heights Park but also features some unique items. The playground’s most prominent feature is the gravity-rail which can support the weight of a grown adult male.

A swing is attached to a rail track on the north end of the playground and operates similar to zip-line.

The equipment was designed to resemble a Bavarian Castle similar to the previous equipment on this site. German Park is frequently host to musical concerts in the summer months and this is reflected in the playground, which has musical themed equipment.

The playground equipment is ready for use now, but the official ribbon cutting ceremony is set for later this month.