A Chapel Hill playground has a bit of a new look.

Southern Community Park Playground is now open after some work. Bill Webster, planning and development manager for Chapel Hill's parks and recreation department, tells me crews fixed drainage issues at the park, planted sod where there once was a "mulch desert," and planted shade trees. They also replaced the wood fiber surface underneath the play equipment with a new rubber surface and added some small nature-oriented play features.

The play area is open, but Webster asks visitors to stay off the new sod for a couple of weeks. The park is at 1000 Sumac Rd., Chapel Hill.

The town also is hosting a public meeting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 9, to solicit input on specific ideas for Chapel Hill’s future inclusive playground. The meeting will be held in Room A of the Chapel Hill Public Library, 100 Library Dr. This is a drop-in meeting, so you can pop in at any time between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to share your thoughts. Children are welcome.

In early 2016, the town selected Cedar Falls Park to serve as the location for the playground, which will be designed with play pieces that kids of all abilities can use - similar to Kids Together in Cary or Sassafras All Children's Playground in Raleigh (which is pictured). Now, officials are looking at specific ideas, program areas, types of equipment and other issues.

Chapel Hill's website has much more information about plans for the inclusive playground.