All-inclusive playground at Rengstorff Park breaks ground
SAN JOSE – Today, Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian joined the City of Mountain View and the Magical Bridge Foundation at a groundbreaking celebration for an all-inclusive playground at Rengstorff Park, 201 S. Rengstorff Avenue. The playground will provide community members (children and adults) of all ages and abilities with an innovative play area. The Magical Bridge Playground at Rengstorff Park is anticipated to open in fall 2024.
“Playgrounds are important places for recreation and community building,” said Simitian. “They can also be therapeutic for children with disabilities, who, like all children, benefit from the developmental milestones experienced through playing. What’s more, all-inclusive playgrounds promote understanding between neighbors with and without disabilities as they’re places where everyone can enjoy and play.”
The playground is partially funded by the County’s All-Inclusive Playground Grant (AIPG) program, which Simitian and County Supervisor Cindy Chavez spearheaded in 2017. Prior to 2017, the County contributed twice on an ad hoc basis to efforts by cities and community groups to build all-inclusive playgrounds in San Jose (Rotary PlayGarden) and Palo Alto (Magical Bridge). Because of how scarce these playgrounds were, families — with, and also without, children with disabilities — drove from throughout the area to enjoy them. The two parks quickly proved so popular that overcrowding became an issue.
Recognizing the high demand and regional significance of all-inclusive playgrounds, in 2017, the Board of Supervisors approved $10 million in matching funds (up to $2 million in every supervisorial district) to catalyze the construction of all-inclusive playgrounds throughout the County. The Board subsequently allocated an additional $10 million in matching funds in 2018. In total, the County has provided matching grants for 24 projects thus far, many of which are already open to the public, including the following all-inclusive playgrounds in North County:
- Landels Elementary School in Mountain View
- Addison Elementary School in Palo Alto
- El Carmelo Elementary School in Palo Alto
"Our goal was to serve as a catalyst—to see if we could leverage additional funds and create a movement—a movement of inclusion and equity, developing a score or more of the all-inclusive playgrounds," said Simitian. "Our matching grant program has done just that! And kudos to the city of Mountain View and Magical Bridge for jumping on the opportunity and spreading the good works. More and more all-inclusive playgrounds will follow, with more and more families and communities served, till one day we understand that this is just the way it should be. Hopefully that's the way it will be in the not too distant future, thanks to all who made this particularly magical playground happen."
Earlier this year, Simitian and Chavez asked the County to revive the AIPG program with $10 million more in matching grants to local jurisdictions and nonprofits, including, but not limited to cities, school districts, and other agencies willing to build all-inclusive playgrounds in their communities.
“As hoped, the AIPG program increased awareness of the need for inclusive playgrounds, and spurred local communities to act that otherwise couldn’t afford to develop these playgrounds without financial assistance,” said Simitian. “But the demand is still there — my office continues to field inquiries from advocates and jurisdictions interested in County support for new all-inclusive playgrounds. The program has a proven track record of projects throughout the region; the need and enthusiasm for these parks is undeniable.”