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A new Magical Bridge playground has just opened at Rengstorff Park in Mountain View, making it the tenth playground of its kind to welcome people of all ages, including those with disabilities.
Throngs of children swamped the playground Saturday morning, flying high on swings and zipping down slides, while others explored the hideaway huts and two-story playhouse.
“It’s a new community hub,” said Mayor Ellen Kamei, who kicked off the grand opening on Jan. 25. “This playground is a testament to our city’s dedication to equity and inclusion. It’s a place where everyone belongs and can experience the joy of play.”
At $7.3 million, the new playground has all the trappings of a regular playground with inclusive design features built into it. It has wheelchair accessible swings, slides and spinners as well as special structures for those who may need sensory breaks. It also has a performance stage, tot zone and kindness cove to promote social connection and inclusion.
“You can come. No matter who you are and where you come from, you’ll be welcome,” said Magical Bridge Foundation founder and CEO Olenka Villarreal. Villareal has been a driving force behind the playgrounds with the first one opening in Palo Alto ten years ago.
In Mountain View, the idea to build a Magical Bridge playground quickly caught on, although it took years to get off the ground. Originally proposed in 2017, the project hit numerous roadblocks with fundraising challenges and cost increases, in part because of the COVID pandemic. The price shot up from $4.9 million to $7.3 million in six years, a nearly 50% increase.
A combination of funding sources from the city, county and state as well as donations from the Magical Bridge Foundation and Google closed this gap. The city kicked in the largest contribution at $3.3 million.
Separately, the city also has built ADA-compliant restrooms and parking spaces near the playground. It plans to install shade coverings over the tot zone, slides and picnic area as well, according to a Jan. 28 council report.
“This one took longer than others but it still has a happy ending,” Villarreal said.
Parents with young children expressed enthusiasm about the playground’s opening, with many stating they had been anticipating it for years.
“We couldn’t miss it,” laughed Shubhra Omar, a Mountain View resident who was watching her daughter hang from a net spinner with about a dozen other kids.
Patrick Clary, a Santa Clara resident and Magical Bridge Foundation board member, made a special trip to attend the grand opening with his family. He was particularly excited about the swings, he said. He could push his five-year-old daughter from his wheelchair, as there was no sand impeding his mobility.
“It’s easy to see why this place is magical,” Clary said.
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Pretty funny that no one is complaining about a playground costing 50% more than plan but are screaming in district meetings about how the teacher housing project was more expensive than plan…by the same amount.