County Parks Friends has launched a public-private campaign to raise $1 million for a universally accessible playground at Jade Street Park in partnership with the City of Capitola.
The city has plans to fund the balance of the estimated $1.79 million project.
Universally accessible playgrounds are designed so children of all abilities can play with their friends and families without encountering barriers to play found at most typical playgrounds.
Verde Design of Santa Clara, which specializes in recreation projects, has planned a marine and shoreline themed playground to replace the one that was installed in 1999 and updated in 2007 next to the Capitola Community Center.
The community is invited to submit name ideas for the playground by Aug. 31, with a name decision to be made by Capitola City Council in early fall. Fundraising efforts are expected to run through January 2025.
“This wonderful, new playground will allow children of all abilities to play side by side, so none are excluded,” said City Councilmember Yvette Lopez Brooks, who pushed the project during her term as mayor. “The city sought and received public input on the park’s design, and now we will seek community support to make it a reality.”
Separately, the city is investing in a community center renovation project, which includes a remodel of the center and upgrades to the surrounding area, which sits on land that belongs to the Soquel Union School District.
The Capitola City Council was inspired to build a universally accessible playground after seeing the success of LEO’s Haven at Chanticleer Park, the county’s first fully-inclusive playground, which opened in Live Oak in 2020.
“LEO’s Haven is immensely popular and heavily used, speaking to the great need and desire for inclusive play,” said Tricia Wiltshire, founder of LEO’s Haven and campaign manager for the Jade Street Park Playground. “Jade Street is a perfect spot for a new, universally accessible playground. County Park Friends is excited to support the needs of children and their families in our community.”
One out of every ten children and two out of every ten individuals in the general population have a disability which translates to thousands of community members who benefit from access to universally accessible playgrounds. Other than LEO’s Haven, other universally accessible playgrounds are over an hour away in Salinas, Morgan Hill and San Jose. The City of Watsonville has plans to build an inclusive playground at Ramsey Park.
“Ever since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, communities have worked hard to make common spaces safer and more physically navigable for all. A great example of this is the universal playground planned for Jade Street Park,” said Dan Haifley, a volunteer fundraiser. He and his wife, Rebecca, have an adult daughter, Julia, who has disabilities and used to live across the street from the playground site. “This playground will allow children of all abilities to experience the joy of play, in the same setting, together.”
For information, to submit a name or contribute, visit www.countyparkfriends.org/jadestpark.html