In white hard hats and under the clouded sky, Michelle Mathis, principal at Learning Landscapes Design, led the Youth Design Team up the giant rocks lining the soon-to-be waterfall in Legacy Grove park Friday evening.

The waterfall was just one element of the two-acre children’s adventure play area designed by Learning Landscapes Design that the Youth Design Team, which assembled and gave input on the play area over two years ago, toured.

Legacy Grove, which is expected to open in the late spring or early summer, is transforming the nearly 30 acres of land that was the site of Winchester’s Clark Regional Medical Center into an iconic recreational space that will draw visitors from across the region.

The urban park, located at 1107 W. Lexington Ave., also includes elements designed by landscape architecture firm CARMAN including paved walking paths, more than 200 newly planted trees and open lawns. According to the release, Clark County’s first-ever dog park will open later this year.

Dean Builds is developing the park, which will be ADA-accessible with a paved walking path throughout, and the play area will have options for children of all abilities. The park would also have accessible entrances from surrounding neighborhoods.

Beth Jones, program officer at GCF, previously told The Sun the design initially shown to the community has some slight changes, but the essential elements of open spaces, connectivity, inclusiveness and adventure remain the focus.

In 2016, the 25-member youth design team consisting of Clark County children in fourth through sixth grades, representing a diverse group of students from area public, private and home schools, took the lead in designing a two-acre portion of Legacy Grove, formerly known as Project 1107, dedicated to children’s play.

“Our youth have ownership in this play area and park,” Jones said in a news release. “We wanted to make sure they were on-site during construction to see their vision become reality. Their excitement is genuine, and they should be proud of their work.”

Jones told The Sun the students first worked in teams to explore different “play topics,” like swinging, sliding and climbing. They also considered accessibility for children of all sizes and physical abilities.

“It’s rare that youth are involved in the planning process alongside the designers,” Mathis said in the release. “But that’s not the only thing that makes the Legacy Grove play area special. Features were designed to stimulate the healthy development of children physically, socially and mentally.”

The play area currently under construction includes many unique features, including a custom-designed dulcimer climber. It pays tribute to the famous Appalachian string instrument and Kentucky’s most renowned dulcimer-maker, Homer Ledford, who called Winchester home. Children can climb on, in and throughout the dulcimer and make music, songs and dance.

The adventure play area also includes a creek and “loose parts play that will encourage children to use their imagination, be creative, problem-solve, make new friends and play together,” according to the release.

At the end of the tour, Mathis asked the Design Team what they most looked forward to, and they unanimously agreed, “the slide.”