Cobb County's youngest residents are getting a new place to play and learn, and it's built for all of them.

Workers spent the week installing rainbow-colored artificial turf at Cobb County Safety Village, the final piece of a $175,000 inclusive playground that director Allison Carter said is designed to accommodate children of various backgrounds, abilities and learning differences. The playground is set to open Friday, July 25, at the facility on Al Bishop Drive in Marietta.

"We're so excited to have this addition," Carter told the Marietta Daily Journal on Thursday, July 23, as crews shoveled dirt and rolled turf in front of the new structure.

The playground is one of three ARPA-funded projects at the facility. The other two — outdoor bathrooms for visiting students and educators, and an outdoor lunch plaza — are already complete. The turf itself was funded separately by the Safety Village Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the facility.

Canton-based Great American Green handled the turf installation, which began Tuesday, July 21, and is expected to wrap up Friday. CEO Darryl DuLong said the synthetic surface provides a safe play area while keeping long-term costs down, noting it requires no watering and performs better than natural grass.

Safety Village, located at 1220 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta, educates every second and fourth grader in Cobb County about personal safety and interacting with first responders. Thousands of children visit each year on school trips, and the facility also hosts public events. Once open, the playground will double as an exercise area with safety messages woven throughout to teach kids about staying safe at home and in the community.

Carter said the playground will enhance the campus experience for students and for the public during open events.

How to visit: Cobb County Safety Village hosts public programs including Camp Puzzle, a free event for youth on the autism spectrum, and Family Fun Safety Days ($5 per person, $20 family maximum). For upcoming event dates and program information, contact the Safety Village at (770) 852-3294 or [email protected].