South Overland Park's Newest Playground Was Built So No Kid Has to Watch From the Sidelines

"One of the biggest questions we've had here is like, 'well, my kid doesn't have a disability or special needs, can they still come play here?'" Blue Valley Recreation Director Shane Dewald told FOX4 on opening day.

His answer: "That's the whole word of inclusion, is that everyone can come play."

Brody's Boundless Playground opened Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Blue Valley Recreation Sports Complex near 137th Street and Antioch. It's a $3 million play space. Inclusion is the reason it exists, and every design choice serves it. That's also why it belongs on every south Overland Park family's list, not only the families it was named to serve. The playground is about two weeks old, so this is your first chance to plan a visit around it.

Every feature is built for kids playing together

Lots of playgrounds technically meet accessibility rules and still split kids up. One child takes the ramp, another takes the ladder, and they meet again on the ground. Brody's Boundless was planned to close that gap. Opening coverage from the Johnson County Post describes wheelchair-friendly climbing structures with wide ramps, ground-level play areas, sensory-friendly zones, flat surfaces that work with mobility aids, and accessible restrooms.

The ramps carry the main idea. FOX4 reported that the ramps to the top are wide enough for a friend who walks to go side by side with a friend who rolls. A ramp built that wide is an invitation for two kids to climb together.

The ground surface is designed with the same care. Variety KC CEO Marc Harrell walked FOX4 through it. The surfacing is flat, with no incline, and a contrasting color marks each impact zone. A child who runs with eyes down sees the color change and pauses, and that pause gives a parent or caregiver time to catch up. Any parent who has chased a toddler toward a swing set knows the value of that half-second.

Some of the most useful details are off the equipment:

• Changing tables in every restroom. Each playground bathroom has an adult-sized, motorized changing table, FOX4 reported.
• Quiet places to reset. When ground broke in April, KCUR reported plans for sensory retreat areas "for regulation and calm," along with music stations, inclusive swings, and ground-level play features.
• A full range of movement. Blue Valley Rec says the design follows PlayCore's "Play On!" movements: swinging, sliding, climbing, brachiating, spinning, and balancing. Brachiating means swinging hand over hand, the way kids cross monkey bars.

PlayCore named the project a National Demonstration Site before it was even built. Blue Valley Rec describes the designation as recognition for communities that set a strong example in inclusive play design.

Why the swings get a whole row

Most playgrounds put in one adaptive swing at the end of the regular ones. Brody's Boundless has an entire row of inclusive swings. The Johnson County Post reported the choice was a nod to Brody Rea's favorite piece of playground equipment. Brody's parents, Michael and Brandy Rea, helped make the playground happen.

At the ribbon-cutting, Harrell explained why that matters, as the Johnson County Post reported:

"When a child cannot get on a playground, they do not just miss a swing. They miss the friendships that happen when they swing. When a child uses a wheelchair and a child who does not use a wheelchair swing side by side, both of them learn something."

A row of swings puts kids side by side instead of making them take turns on one special seat. Brandy Rea described the goal to the Johnson County Post as "a place where every child is celebrated and everyone belongs." Harrell gave the outlet a shorter version: "Boundless means no barriers, no edges, no ceiling, no sideline."

Why a baseball complex is the right place for it

The location makes the most sense if you've ever spent a Saturday at the Sports Complex. The playground sits on a former baseball field. The rest of the complex still holds 28 irrigated baseball and softball fields, sand volleyball courts, climbing rocks, picnic shelters, and 1,970 parking spaces, according to Blue Valley Rec's facility page. That's a lot of younger siblings waiting through somebody else's game, and now they have a place built for all of them right next to the fields.

The project took about three years. Shane DeWald, the recreation commission's executive director, told the Johnson County Post that talks began about three years ago. Blue Valley Recreation, Variety KC, and the Michael and Brandy Rea Foundation built it together. FOX4 reported the foundation gave $1 million toward the $3 million total. It's Variety KC's 12th inclusive playground. Johnson County families may already know an earlier one: the Johnson County Post covered the opening of Variety KC's Leawood City Park playground in 2017.

The timeline slipped a little. In April, KCUR reported an expected September opening, and the ribbon-cutting came in mid-October. Opening day started with a sensory-friendly soft opening for Variety KC families, followed by a public ribbon-cutting and a community play day, KCTV reported.

Before your first visit

The complex is big, and the main address won't take you to the right corner. Here's what to know:

1. Use the playground's address. Blue Valley Rec lists the playground at 8851 W. 137th Street, Overland Park, KS 66221. The Sports Complex as a whole uses 9701 W. 137th St.
2. Look for Fields 3 and 4. The Overland Park Chronicle places the playground near those fields, at the southwest corner of 137th Street and Antioch.
3. Go any day before dark. It's open daily from dawn to dusk, weather permitting. As fall days get shorter, the after-school window gets shorter too.
4. It's free. The Overland Park Chronicle reports the playground is free and open to the public. You can reach Blue Valley Recreation at (913) 685-6000.
5. Leave the wheels at home. The complex rules ban bicycles, skateboards, scooters, e-bikes, and e-scooters. Only service animals are allowed, so the family dog stays home.

Make an afternoon of it

Tomorrow gives you an easy reason to go. Blue Valley Rec's events calendar lists the Clues & Crew Scavenger Hunt at the Sports Complex tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 30. Its Candy Cane Hunt returns to the complex on Dec. 5. Either one pairs well with a stop at the playground. Check the Blue Valley Rec events page for registration details.

West 135th Street is a short drive north, and a few spots there have opened recently, according to the Johnson County Post:

• Mocha Point Yemeni Coffee, 8641 W. 135th St., opened in February 2026 with coffee and pastries. The Johnson County Post covered it in March.
• Chick-In Waffle, 8667 W. 135th St., serves chicken and waffles. It opened in May 2025, per the Johnson County Post.
• Vietnam Cafe, 9500 W. 135th St., opened June 13, 2026, with pho, banh mi, and other Vietnamese dishes, the Johnson County Post reported.

Hours can change, so check with each place before you head over with hungry kids.

Want to know which homes are close to the parks and fields your family will actually use? That's the kind of local detail we track every week at Hannah Murrell, and we're happy to share it. Schedule Your Strategy, and let's start your Red Bow experience with a conversation about the weekends you want.