Senator Jean Preston Memorial Park

Description

Senator Jean Preston Memorial Park is an all-inclusive playground on the Bogue Sound side of Emerald Isle, built so children of all abilities can play side by side. Ramps and accessibility features let kids who use wheelchairs reach the play equipment, and the AeroGlider ride has room for a wheelchair, so a child who uses one can ride with friends. Classic ladders, slides, and bridges give climbers plenty to explore. The playground was dedicated in 2016 and built with a grant from Trillium Health Resources and community donations. It is named for the late State Senator Jean Preston, an Emerald Isle resident and former educator who served 20 years in the North Carolina General Assembly and championed children and education. A school bell on the grounds honors that legacy. The park sits beside the town's public boating access area, which adds a picnic shelter and a pier out over the sound, so a family can pair playground time with a snack break or a look at the water. Parking is on site, and the playground makes an easy break from the beach, with open views across Bogue Sound.