Project is an effort to build city’s first playground accessible for all children, including those with developmental disabilities
Published in the January 6 – 19, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
The Morgan Hill Inclusive Playground Project team is inviting interested members of the public to help city staff and volunteers in the first stages of designing the universally-accessible playground which will be built at Community Park. People can share their ideas for the project at a public input meeting 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 16 at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center.
The project is a community-wide effort to build Morgan Hill’s first playground that is accessible for all children, including those with developmental disabilities. The project was conceived by Morgan Hill residents Ron and Shirlee Locicero and is gaining momentum since it was announced in February.
“We want to know what the community would like to have in the park and what their needs are,” Ron said of the upcoming public input meeting. “The committee wants to design a park that will meet the needs of our community and will be used and enjoyed by all. Our goal is to build an inclusive park where everyone can grow, play and learn together regardless of ability. ”
Feedback from the meeting includes finding out what various children with different needs might like to do at the playground. These include: What does your child like to play on? Do they like to climb, spin, swing, jump, or explore? What items should be featured in the playhouse? Is there a theme you would like to see developed? What does your child need in terms of adaptive play equipment?
On Nov. 4, the Morgan Hill City Council approved the selection of architectural firm Verde Design to initiate the design of the playground. Verde Design was chosen by the volunteer group from a pool of six potential design firms that submitted proposals to design the playground.
Verde Design is a local Santa Clara firm that has provided design, planning and landscape architectural services throughout the Bay Area and Northern California for a number of years. It has built sports facilities, public parks and urban landscape. Most recently, the firm worked on two of the Bay Area’s inclusive playgrounds: Magical Bridge in Palo Alto and Rotary PlayGarden in San Jose.
“The firm’s experience and creativity places our project in good hands as we begin the process of turning our ideas and dreams for this playground into reality,” team member Anna Gervacio said.
The inclusive playground group also joined the Morgan Hill Community Foundation and is now accepting donations under the umbrella of this nonprofit organization.
The estimated cost of the building the playground is about $2 million dollars. However, a total cost will not be finalized until designs are completed in the spring. To date the city of Morgan Hill has approved $300,000 toward the construction of the park and the city council has approved providing two acres of land for the park at Community Park.
Behind the project stands a team of volunteers who have long been dedicated to the idea of this project, Gervacio. The central team is composed of seven individuals: Albert Balagso, Amber Biscardi, Anna Gervacio, Chris Ghione, Debbie Hernandez, Ron Locicero and Shirley Locicero.
The park will be a premiere park and a destination spot for Morgan Hill and its neighbors, Hernandez said.
“I see families from Gilroy, San Martin, South San Jose and Hollister visiting the park. The families with children who have differing abilities will be welcomed with open arms; they will be able to play and have fun along side typical developing children without feeling out of place.”
Input from the public is important to make sure the park is a facility every family will enjoy using, Balagso said.
“We are looking for feedback that tells us from the community’s experiences what has worked for their children in engaging them in fun and meaningful play,” he said. “This may include types of equipment that are popular and inclusive for all abilities and types that do the opposite and should be avoided. What might add the ‘it factor’ to keeping you and your family coming back, such as the playground’s theme, colors, and art that create a wonderland of adventure that children never get tired of.”
The project team will also contact local schools to seek input directly from children and their teachers, he said.
When Ron Locicero applied last year for Morgan Hill’s Parks and Recreation Commission, the questionnaire asked what he might wish to see done when he was on the commission.
He talked with his wife about a few projects but nothing struck them at first. And then they saw a Channel 8 News segment on the new Tatum’s Garden inclusive playground in Salinas — and they knew they had their project.
“Shirlee and I took a drive to Salinas to see the playground, and we were impressed by the quality of the facility,” he said. “It is designed to be used by all children — but especially kids with special physical and emotional needs.”
Shirlee taught in elementary schools and worked with special education kindergarten, first and second-grade students who were mainstreamed into her class. From that experience she saw the tremendous value an inclusive playground in a park in Morgan Hill might provide families of the region.
“We want to make sure that all South Valley and San Benito County residents are welcome in helping us achieve our goal of building an inclusive park,” Ron said. “We are working with the Morgan Hill Unified School District (and in the future other school districts) to make sure that students and families can be involved in designing the playground. We are also encouraging nonprofit groups — especially those involved in gardening and art — to be a part of the development. And of course, we’ll welcome the support of businesses large and small in raising money and providing in-kind donations.”
In the inclusive playground, there will be places to run, climb, dig and hide, he said. It will have shaded benches for sitting or reading and sunny open-space areas for games.
The park will be a destination for the entire family. Although the playground will be located in Morgan Hill, it will be a place that people from surrounding areas of Hollister, Gilroy and San Jose will be able to use and enjoy as well, Ron said.
For more information about the park and how to get involved, go to the website morganhillinclusiveplayground.org or follow the project on Facebook at www.facebook.com/morganhillplayground. You can also contact Locicero at 408-710-0570 or email him at [email protected].
DETAILS
The Morgan Hill Inclusive Playground Project teams are seeking people to join them in their endeavor to bring a beautiful playground for all to enjoy in the heart of Community Park. The group needs help in various areas:
• Donate time, talent and/or resources
• Join and help drive this project forward
• Be a partner and/or sponsor
• Volunteer with fundraising, promoting or advocating
Contact: www.morganhillplayground.org
Sponsorships/partnerships: email Ron Locicero at [email protected]
Donate: www.morganhillcf.org, or by check:
Checks must be made out to: Morgan Hill Community Foundation, Inclusive Playground, Morgan Hill Inclusive Playground Project c/o Community Services Department, 17575 Peak Ave., Morgan Hill, CA 95037
