Nestled under the shadow of Mount Mitchell in Yancey County, North Carolina, is a playground with a story like no other. Kid Mountain has long been the destination of sun-filled days in the park, a post library reading spot, and as part of a walking loop around the library. A large wooden play structure built by volunteers and funded by grants was part of the facility from 2001 until Early 2025, a reminder of what can be built when a community comes together. 

While the old structure was loved by the community, it had become costly to maintain and ultimately unsafe for the many users of the playground. On August 29th, 2024, Yancey County was awarded funds from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) to revitalize Kid Mountain. Yancey County’s goal for the new structure was a playspace that would meet or exceed the requirements set by the ADA, include play that was sensory friendly to all participants, and involve all in the community. 

On September 27th, less than one month after the awarding of the funds, the mountain community would be hit by Hurricane Helene, altering the landscape and future of western North Carolina. In less than 24 hours, it is estimated that anywhere from 14-20 inches of rain fell on Burnsville and the surrounding areas. The mountain topography compounded the effects and turned tranquil streams into roaring rivers. The resulting damage to life and property was devastating. Bridges and roads connecting communities were swept away, and all of Yancey County’s parks were deemed inoperable. 

As funding for the playspace was secured by the PARTF grant and could not be utilized for recovery efforts, a request for proposals for the new Kid Mountain playground opened on October 31st, 2024. Barrs Recreation placed a bid for the design and construction of the Kid Mountain Playground in November of 2024, hoping to be a part of building back Western North Carolina and provide a safe place for play. 

Ashley’s design included a subtle nature theme reflected in the colors of the playground as well as the pour-in-place pathway throughout the space. Accessibility and a focus on intergenerational play were strong themes throughout the design. Intergenerational spaces in this design include a designated music section along the periphery of the play space, a shaded picnic area in the middle of the space, and inclusive free-standing elements such as the volta spinner, cirrus swing, MOVMNT, and airventure glider. The towering 5-12 structure is partially ramped and shaded and is connected to the Nucleus Evolution tower. The 2-5 structure is full of age and developmentally appropriate climbing and sliding, and a playhouse invites kids to engage in imaginative play. Kid Mountain also features a spot for the smallest of park goers ages 6-23 months, where sensory development is key. 

To everyone at Barrs Recreation, this project reminded us of the daily impact that our play spaces have in the communities that we get to work with. Just as the original play space represented a community coming together to create something amazing, the new structure served as a reminder that the mountain community is so much stronger together.

At the time of the Grand Opening on May 19th, 2025, Kid Mountain was the only playground that was open in Yancey County. Recovery efforts are ongoing a year and a half later. 

In January 2026, BCI Burke awarded Kid Mountain as it’s Project of the Year. 

If you would like to contribute to the ongoing recovery efforts of Western North Carolina, donations can be made to United Way by selecting the “UW Helps NC Fund”