Background

In the eastern part of North Carolina, Jones County is a small, tight-knit community where everyone knows your name and where families have farmed for generations. Trenton, the county seat, has been without a municipal playground for years, with families traveling to nearby Maysville to spend a day at the playground. Recently, through a combination of individual, private, and public support, Jones County installed the first municipal playground in Trenton. 

Land acquisition and funding have been key barriers to the development of play space, as much of the land in the county stays within the family for generations. In early 2025, the Mills family sold 35 acres to the County to build a community and wellness center, playground, and a walking track. The land is centrally located across from the elementary and high school and along Highway 58. 

The Design process 

The playground portion of the project was originally planned for later in the overall project timeline. That all changed when the invitation to apply for the $250,000 accessible playground grant from Trillium Health Care landed on County Manager Kyle Smith's desk. As municipal departments know, the time to act is when funding is available! After encouragement from representative John Barrs, Jones County also applied for the Accessible Playgrounds grants administered by the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. After being one of the 9 municipal and county facilities from across the state to be awarded the funding, the original design was reworked to include additional accessible play. These additions include the volta spinner, as well as more sliding and climbing opportunities. Through thoughtful planning and partnership, the playground was funded entirely through grant dollars. 

The Equipment 

The playground is fully fenced in and accessible to the parking lot via a sidewalk. The playground features pour-in-place surfacing, a walking track surrounding the playground, 3 bays of swings, intergenerational music equipment, an inclusive volta spinner (a favorite of kids at the grand opening), and a sprout spot for younger users. While the playground is inclusive and accessible by nature, there is something for everyone in the space. Ramps in the space increase the ease of access to the rest of the structure, but other routes include climbing elements such as the formis climber or the 360 loop ramp. The incorporated serenity spot provides a quiet spot for any participant, and sensory rails provide tactile input in otherwise unoccupied space. Freestanding play and music encourage adults to join the action alongside younger users. Benches and the walking track surrounding the playground provide opportunities for caregivers to keep an eye on the play 

The grand opening on April 20th was attended by 3 different grades from the elementary school, members of the park and recreation commission, representatives from several elected officials' offices, and countless community members. Since the grand opening, the playground has been packed with children and families both during the day and after school. We cannot wait to see how the rest of this project comes to life, and we are grateful to Jones County for allowing Barrs Recreation to be a part of this community!