Photos courtesy of Hemisfair
School has started, and now weekends are peak family time! We are lucky to have several fun, inclusive, accessible playgrounds and parks located throughout the San Antonio area where families and children of all abilities can enjoy themselves! Here are a few of the awesomely accessible, inclusive spaces in your neighborhood.
Morgan's Wonderland
5223 David Edwards Dr, San Antonio, TX 78233
MorgansWonderland.org
Morgan’s Wonderland is the world’s first Ultra-Accessible™ Amusement Park, spread across 25 acres and welcoming everyone. Morgan’s Wonderland features more than 25 rides and play areas specially designed so people of any and all abilities, including those with wheelchairs and other medical equipment, can experience the excitement of the amusement park. Special needs children and adults always get in free.
Morgan's Inspiration Island Splash Park
5223 David Edwards Dr, San Antonio, TX 78233
MorgansWonderland.org/Morgans-Inspiration-Island
Morgan’s Inspiration Island is an Ultra-Accessible™ Splash Park with several different splash pads created for all, in keeping with their mission of inclusion. You can buy Splash Park only admission or dual park admission for Inspiration Island and Morgan’s Wonderland. Accessible features include a warm water splash pad, gentle riverboat ride, and waterproof wheelchairs. Special needs children and adults always get in free.
Yanaguana Garden
434 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78205
Hemisfair.org/Play
Located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, Hemisfair Park’s Yanaguana Garden offers activities for everyone and is designed to accommodate wheelchairs and adaptive play. Accessible features include wheelchair access points at the Sand Play Area, the Boomerang, and Splash Pad (open through November); adaptive swing seats; a wheelchair-accessible sand digger; and more. Events include Story Time, community yoga, plus other fitness and family-friendly activities. Community First is a proud sponsor of inclusion programming and wheelchair accessible playground equipment at Yanaguana Garden.
San Antonio Parks
Various locations
SA.gov/Directory/Departments/Parks
Free and open to the public, an early morning stroll through a San Antonio Park is a great way to enjoy the outdoors before the day heats up. Nearly all San Antonio Parks are either partially or fully wheelchair accessible, and popular wheelchair-friendly park trails include:
San Antonio Botanical Garden, Sensory Garden
555 Funston Place, San Antonio, TX 78209
SABOT.org
Most of the 30 acres of colorful plants and beautiful flowers at the San Antonio Botanical Garden are wheelchair accessible. Engage your senses of touch and smell in the Sensory Garden, which grows plants with interesting textures and scents. Braille signage and ceramic and bronze sculptures also appeal to the sense of touch. (Those receiving food assistance can enter the Garden with a reduced admission fee of $3 per person, up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP EBT card.)
Japanese Tea Garden
3853 N. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio, 78212
SAParks.org/Japanese-Tea-Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden shows visitors a glimpse into the elegance of Japanese culture, with its cultivated plant gardens, Japanese-style structures, and koi ponds. It is a tranquil oasis in the city. These peaceful grounds are open from dawn to dusk, free to everyone, and wheelchair accessible.
The DoSeum
2800 Broadway St., San Antonio, TX 78209
TheDoSeum.org
The DoSeum is the ultimate children’s museum for young learners of all skills and abilities. The entire DoSeum is wheelchair accessible. Even the outdoor treehouse is accessible by either elevators or walkways. The DoSeum also accommodates Autism spectrum and sensory concerns and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Community First Health Plans is a proud sponsor of Free Family Nights at the Doseum on the first Monday of every month. Registration is required for all guests, and tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis.
San Antonio River Walk
Various locations
TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com
Considered the heart of the city, the famed River Walk has numerous accessible areas that can be reached by either ramps or elevators. The City of San Antonio has worked for decades to increase accessibility along the downtown River Walk. They provide maps of each accessible area to better help special needs visitors navigate the River Walk.
Wherever you decide to explore in San Antonio, we want you to find safe, inclusive, accessible spaces for every individual. Have fun out there!
Please check websites for updated events and seasonal hours.