Bartlett families now have a new place to play at Shadowlawn Park, where an inclusive playground is now open. The park is located at 4734 Shadowlawn Road.
The Bartlett Police Department broke the news on Facebook, declaring that Shadowlawn Park is officially “*drum roll please* OPEN FOR BUSINESS.” The post marked the public debut of a playground designed with accessibility at its core, following months of planning and construction by the city.
City procurement records show the project traces back to a formal request for proposals the city issued to solicit written bids to design, furnish and install a new inclusive playground at Shadowlawn Park. The solicitation, known as RFP FY2026-09-008, confirms the project's address and scope, and notes that the effort was backed by a Local Park and Recreation Fund grant awarded to Bartlett through the State of Tennessee.
The playground is part of a broader park-improvement effort: Tennessee awarded Bartlett a $750,000 Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant in 2024. The state’s project description called the park “Shadowland Park” and included an accessible playground, accessible paths connecting park amenities, expanded parking and a replacement restroom and concession building. The award places the new play space within a wider plan to improve access and facilities across the park, rather than treating it as a stand-alone equipment purchase. Tennessee’s grant announcement lists the award and project scope.
An Inclusive Playground for Shadowlawn Park
The project called for a new inclusive playground at Shadowlawn Park.
Bidders were required to attend an on-site pre-bid visit at Shadowlawn Park before submitting proposals.
Conflicting Bid Deadlines in the Paper Trail
Conflicting Bid Deadlines in the Paper Trail The bidding deadlines differed across the project listings. The city's RFP stated that proposals were due by 2 p.m. Central time on October 3, 2025, while a planroom listing instructed contractors to send their quotes by 4:30 p.m. on October 20, 2025.
What is clear is the standard the finished project was meant to meet. The RFP required that the playground's design and construction comply with all applicable ADA, ASTM, CPSC and IPEMA standards, covering everything from accessibility to product safety for playground equipment.
For local governments, accessibility rules cover more than choosing equipment labeled inclusive. Federal standards apply to newly built playgrounds and require accessible routes connecting specified play components; the Access Board also explains that routes and surfaces need ongoing attention to remain usable. Those requirements help put the RFP’s references to ADA and ASTM standards in context, though the procurement record alone does not establish which specific features or routes were installed at Shadowlawn. The Access Board’s playground guidance describes the route, surface and maintenance requirements.
A New Chapter for the Neighborhood Park
With the playground now open, Shadowlawn Park adds an inclusive play space to its amenities, giving Bartlett families a spot designed with children of varying abilities in mind. The city's solicitation listed the Parks & Recreation Department.
The need for accessible play is relevant to a substantial share of families: CDC analysis of national survey data from 2014 through 2018 found that 17.3% of U.S. children and adolescents ages 3 to 17 had at least one developmental disability. Within that group, 5.7% had a limited ability to move or play. The figures describe a broad range of developmental disabilities, not the number of children in Bartlett who will use the new playground. CDC’s analysis of children’s developmental disabilities provides the national estimates.
