STEUBENVILLE — Some city officials haven’t given up on the idea of bringing an all-inclusive play area to Steubenville, but this time it’s Jim Wood Park they’re looking at.

Prior to tonight’s business meeting, council will hear from a consultant with Unlimited Play, a Missouri-based nonprofit that’s currently involved in building more than 60 all-inclusive playgrounds across the country. The 30-minute discussion will be conducted via Zoom beginning at 6:45 p.m.

“We would encourage any members of the public to attend (Tuesday night) to hear about this opportunity for our community,” Councilman Tracy McManamon said.

He said the organization, Unlimited Play, is a comprehensive organization “whose main goal is to help (communities) fundraise, design and build” play sites where children can interact and play, regardless of abilities.

McManamon said the city’s Park & Recreation Board has already given him the go-ahead to look into it.

“We’re looking at doing a joint effort with the Department of Developmental Disabilities on John Scott Highway,” he said. “This is something that I have talked about with them for a couple of years now. The need for an inclusive playground in our valley is so important today because so many people just do not have access to a lot of recreational facilities. Although we call it a ‘playground,’ it will be for all ages, whether they are developmentally delayed in any manner, handicapped or emotionally or mentally challenged.”

It’s not a new idea: Several years ago a local group initially had proposed putting a miracle field at North End Park but it met with fierce opposition from long-time residents who said they liked the idea but didn’t want it there. Belleview Park also was briefly considered, but eventually they moved on.

McManamon said if council opts to move forward with the idea, the group would “send architects and designers to our park and be able to come up with a fundraising goal.”

Only then, he said, will they have an idea how much it might cost.

“But we do have a few entities or individuals that (have) already expressed interest in stepping up and helping us with fundraising,” he said. “We will be looking at foundations, local employers, individuals and institutions to help us meet this goal.”