KIERA SCHOLTEN
Staff Writer
Children with special needs will soon have a special playground at a park in Calabasas. The playground is called, “Brandon’s Village,” and is the first and only universally accessible playground in the region.
A record donation of $1 million from the Friedman Charitable Trust is funding the construction of the playground. This donation was received in January of this year, groundbreaking took place in May, and the playground is scheduled to open in October.
The playground will serve over 5000 disabled children from Calabasas and the surrounding communities. Gates Canyon Park is about seven acres in size, but the new playground will take up about one acre. The playground design was created by a non-profit organization called Shane’s Inspiration. Over 70 percent of the playground equipment will be independently playable for disabled children, but the whole playground offers stimulating fun for able-bodied kids as well.
Calabasas officials and residents hope that the park will be a safe place for all children to play together for years to come.
09-29-2006