County calls for all-inclusive playgrounds: Applications available August 1st

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN JOSE, CA – Santa Clara County is calling on local cities, schools, and non-profits to apply for funds to build all-inclusive playgrounds throughout the County. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan to build the playgrounds earlier this year. These playgrounds are built to be truly accessible for all children and parents, including those with disabilities.

Introduced by Supervisor Joe Simitian, the plan sets aside a total of $10 million in grant funding for all-inclusive playgrounds to be built in each of the County’s five Supervisorial districts.

Over 10,000 children in Santa Clara County have “major disabilities,” and over 20,000 take advantage of special education in schools. But with the exception of the Rotary PlayGarden in San Jose and the Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto, neither County parks, nor city or school playgrounds, are fully accessible to them or any other family members with disabilities.

Over the past three years, the County has provided modest funding to cities and community groups aiming to build all-inclusive playgrounds in their communities.  In San Jose, Palo Alto, and Morgan Hill, the County has partnered with local cities and non-profits to help build playgrounds specifically designed to make play accessible for all families – including children and parents with physical or cognitive disabilities.

“To say that these parks have been a success would be an understatement,” said Simitian. “Families both with and without disabilities drive for miles to experience these parks. This will give them the same opportunities in the communities where they live.”

“Even so,” said Simitian, “we need more of these parks throughout the County, particularly given how far some folks have to travel. While not every city in the County can take on this task, with our help, we can ensure that in each region in our County families with disabilities have a place to play that’s close to home.”

Currently, schools, senior centers, and independent living providers bring their clients on buses to experience playgrounds that are uniquely accessible to children and adults of varying abilities. The existing parks are becoming overcrowded, as they are in high demand – both by families with children with disabilities, and families who haven’t faced disability.

Five million dollars will be allocated from the 2012 Measure A reserve, with an additional $5 million coming from other General fund sources. Applicants can apply for funding to build all-inclusive playgrounds in each of the County’s five supervisorial districts.

“Congratulations to Santa Clara County leadership for their support and initiative to encourage development of equal-play parks that will serve and welcome families, regardless of abilities, to play side by side in a safe and welcoming environment,” said Julie Matsushima, Former President of the San Jose Rotary and founder of the Rotary PlayGarden. ”The process of developing all-inclusive parks in our County and beyond, should be the standard and not the exception.”

"As individuals, we can't always effect the direction of national policies but we can impact our communities,” said Olenka Villarreal, CEO of Magical Bridge. "How magical would it be to celebrate our most vulnerable community members by creating new and wondrous places for them to play?"

Simitian said he hoped the grant funding, “would show just how much we can do if we partner together; and perhaps inspire similar partnerships in other counties around the state and the nation.”