Temecula's New 'Special Needs Playground' Set to Open This Month

Temecula residents don’t have to wait much longer for the highly-anticipated Special Needs Playground to open at Margarita Community Park. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for this month.

City officials will host a ceremony at the park on Feb. 25, and the community is invited to come check it out.

Some of the new features this playground has are:

• zero-depth Splash Pad
• inclusive swing seats designed for upper and lower body support with secure and supportive restraints
• an ADA wheelchair-accessible Trans-Glide and other equipment for kinesthetic play
• a sensory garden
• tabletop play areas
• ample space for running and exploring
• an enclosure with only one entry and exit to prevent children from wandering
• a rubberized surface for easy mobility

Here’s the full announcement from the city of Temecula:

The City of Temecula will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newest community facility, the Special Needs Playground and Splash Pad, at Margarita Community Park at 29119 Margarita Road on February 25, 2015 at 3:30p.m. The ribbon cutting ceremony will include dedications by special guests, including Temecula City Council’s Inclusive Play Structure Ad Hoc Subcommittee, project designer Pacific Play Systems Inc., contractor Perpetual Parks & Playgrounds Inc., and partner organization Our Nicolas Foundation. Participants will be able to see site renderings, enter a special giveaway for children, and enjoy entertainment and light refreshments.

The playground and splash pad was designed for children of all abilities, with the goal of creating an inclusive and welcoming place where children with special needs can play, explore, and socialize.

“This new playground is exactly what the Subcommittee had in mind when it asked staff to create a universally accessible play area that offers an exceptional play experience for residents of the Temecula community,” said Mayor Jeff Comerchero.

Playgrounds are an essential part of childhood, fostering a child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual development, but often those opportunities are difficult to find for families with special needs.

According to Councilmember Mike Naggar, “This is a well-designed playground and respite for parents, which includes equipment, materials, and features to ensure that children of all abilities have the same play opportunities and can navigate the playground with ease.”

A long time Temecula resident echoed many individuals’ feedback when she commented, “This Park is wonderful. My daughter loves the park but most of the time it is hard for her to get around on a regular playground. I am so excited to be able to give her this experience.”

After an extensive feasibility, design, bid, and construction process, the new playground proudly features a zero-depth Splash Pad, inclusive swing seats designed for upper and lower body support with secure and supportive restraints, an ADA wheelchair-accessible Trans-Glide and other equipment for kinesthetic play, a sensory garden, tabletop play areas, ample space for running and exploring, an enclosure with only one entry and exit to prevent children from wandering, a rubberized surface for easy mobility, ramps, and other imaginative play prompts.

For more information and questions, please contact Temecula Community Services Department at (951) 694-6480.