A new inclusive playground, with more than 52,000 square feet of play equipment, seating areas and landscape, has opened in the West Des Moines Raccoon River Park, 2500 Grand Ave. The playground’s universal design welcomes children and families of all abilities to learn, play and grow together, according to a news release. Pods of various types of play feature motion, swings, sensory, themed play, and climb and crawl. Each method of play has different means of access, allowing children to scramble up hills or use sloping paths to reach the top, according to the release. “Hundreds of thousands of people visit Raccoon River Park annually and use the playground, so this is a significant project that will have a tremendous impact on our community for years to come,” Ryan Penning, West Des Moines’ parks and recreation director, said in a prepared statement. “This is our largest playground in our largest park, and we can’t wait for the community to once again be able to utilize it.” A ribbon-cutting, which the public is invited to attend, is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at the playground.