Variety KC’s
Ten Parks Project

Ten Parks Project

Every Child Deserves to Play

Too many children in our communities are still left out of the places designed for play. That can change.

Through the Ten Parks Project, Variety KC and the Peter and Veronica Mallouk Family Foundation are partnering with city leaders to create truly inclusive playgrounds where every child can Be Active, Be Social, and Belong.

If you lead a city, this is your opportunity to build something meaningful that will serve families for generations.

LOI Submissions for the first application period is open through June 1

Learn More

Submit an LOI

Media Kit

A Partnership for Play: Kansas City, Variety KC, and the Mallouk Family Foundation

This initiative would not be possible without Peter and Veronica Mallouk. Through the Mallouk Family Foundation, they are personally funding more than 80 percent of the next ten inclusive parks, demonstrating a shared commitment to ensuring every child has access to play.

Too often, city leaders face difficult financial decisions that lead to choosing alternatives to fully inclusive playgrounds. This partnership removes that barrier. Together, Variety KC and the Mallouk Family Foundation are making it possible for the next ten playgrounds in Kansas City to be designed for every child.

Peter and Veronica built their success together, purchasing Creative Planning when it had just four employees and growing it into what it is today. They are deeply rooted in family, generosity, and the Kansas City community. Married for 28 years and proud parents of three, they are passionate about giving back and advancing Variety KC’s mission to help every kid Be Active, Be Social, and Belong.

Peter serves as President and CEO of Creative Planning. Veronica leads the Mallouk Family Foundation and is an active community volunteer and advocate.

Ten Inclusive Parks in Ten Cities

An 30 million project made possible through our partnership with the Mallouk Family Foundation

Variety KC’s Universal Design: Parks for All

When a child can’t access a playground, they miss more than a swing or slide. They miss the experience of being part of the fun, building friendships, and engaging with their community.

An inclusive park is intentionally designed so children of all abilities can access, navigate, and enjoy the space together.

That’s why Variety KC is partnering with the Mallouk Family Foundation to launch the Ten Parks Project. This is bigger than playgrounds. We’re building inclusive community spaces designed for every child.

10 Parks_Variety KCs Universal Design Inclusive Parks

Variety KC’s Universal Design Inclusive Parks are built so every child and every family can fully participate.

These spaces feature smooth, accessible surfacing that supports wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers, along with ramps and wide pathways for easy movement throughout the playground.

Children of all abilities can play side by side with both ground-level and elevated play components, while sensory-rich experiences engage through sound, touch, movement, and visual play.

Adaptive swings and inclusive equipment are designed to support a wide range of physical abilities, ensuring no child is left out.

Each park also includes universal restrooms with adult-sized, height-adjustable changing tables, a critical feature for true accessibility and inclusion.

For families and caregivers, parks are designed with fencing for safety and peace of mind, along with shaded seating and gathering areas that are welcoming and accessible for everyone, including caregivers, grandparents, and families of all kinds.

Where Traditional Playgrounds Fall Short

Many traditional playgrounds unintentionally create barriers that limit who can fully participate.

Unaccessible parks often include mulch or turf surfaces that can slow or overexert children using mobility equipment, along with stairs and steep hills that separate play rather than connect it.

Play structures may require climbing only, without ground-level or transfer-accessible options, and narrow pathways or entry points can restrict access for mobility devices.

There is often a lack of sensory play features for children who engage through touch, sound, or movement, and play zones are frequently divided by ability instead of designed for shared experiences.

Families also face challenges with limited accessible parking, making it harder to even reach the playground, and a lack of shaded seating or accessible gathering spaces for caregivers, grandparents, and families.

Inclusive design changes all of that by creating spaces where every child and every family can be part of the experience.

The Process

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Letter of Interest (LOI)

Municipalities submit a brief Letter of Interest outlining the proposed project concept, identified site, and overall readiness to move forward.

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Invited Full Application

Selected municipalities will be invited to submit a full application. Prior to submission, invited municipalities are required to participate in a meeting with Variety KC to review project expectations and readiness.

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Selection Announcement

Variety KC will notify selected municipalities and extend partnership agreements. Once agreements are finalized, Variety KC will publicly announce the locations of the new inclusive parks, and the next phase of project development will begin.

Ten Parks Project Timeline

Submit an LOI

Wave 1, Round 1
LOl Submissions:
May 1 to June 1, 2026

LOI Notifications:
July 2, 2026

Wave 1, Round 2
Full Applications Open:
July 2 to September 30, 2026

Notification of Awards:
by October 30, 2026

Wave 2, Round 1
LOI Submissions:
November 1 to December 1, 2026

LOI Notifications:
January 8, 2027

Wave 2, Round 2
Full Applications Open:
January 8 to March 31, 2027

Notification of Awards:
by April 30, 2027

Eligibility

Projects at any stage may be considered.
Because Variety KC participates early in design and may coordinate preferred vendors, advanced design status does not necessarily improve competitiveness.
Municipalities should avoid advancing design prematurely before coordination with Variety KC.

Questions? Please contact info@varietykc.org .

In the Media

First park in accessible playground initiative across Kansas City will be on downtown cap over I-670

Variety KC announced the first park in its initiative to develop fully accessible, all-abilities playgrounds and inclusive community spaces across Greater Kansas City.

Mallouk Family Foundation commits $30M toward accessible parks metrowide, starting atop I-670

The Mallouk Family Foundation will back an inclusive “play block” in Roy Blunt Luminary Park — and $30 million in total metrowide under its new Ten Park Project initiative with Variety KC.

Mallouk family’s $5.1M investment will welcome children of all abilities to KC’s signature downtown park

A $5.1 million contribution from Kansas City’s most-recent Entrepreneur of the Year not only adds another layer to the vision for a sprawling urban park spanning a downtown section of I-670; it broadens the spectrum of play for many young people who too often find themselves without a space to belong, said Peter Mallouk.

Variety KC and the Mallouk Family have announced a $30 million initiative to build 10 fully accessible, all-abilities parks across the Kansas City metro.

The effort, called the Ten Parks Project, will begin with a new inclusive playground at Roy Blunt Luminary Park in downtown Kansas City, part of the planned cap over I-670.

Variety KC just announced the first park in its Ten Parks Project!

It’s the new playground at Roy Blunt Luminary Park (Downtown KC) 🎉

The first park in a major accessible playground initiative across Kansas City will be on the downtown cap over I-670.

The Ten Parks Project will kick off with a playground at Roy Blunt Luminary Park designed to push beyond traditional accessibility standards.

New Kansas City project will build 10 inclusive parks for kids with disabilities

Katy Shepherd was met with tears Tuesday when nonprofit VarietyKC announced a move that will impact many children across Kansas City — including her daughter, Mila.