By Dan Haifley
Life is not easy for children with cognitive, sensory, or physical disabilities. They and their families can be challenged by daily tasks such as dressing, eating, bathing, and moving around their world. More poignantly, many want the chance to socialize with their peers, but often can’t because they are unable to access public spaces.
For example, an individual in a wheelchair can’t roll in the sand on the beach nor onto a playground covered in tanbark. Also, some also may not feel welcome because of behaviors that others may view as disruptive, and others may feel unseen. Because of these barriers, many don’t get meaningful social time.
The community of people with disabilities is a beautifully broad spectrum; each individual has unique challenges and moments of joy. My wife, Rebecca, son, Aaron, and I know this experience well from our life with our wonderful daughter and sister, Julia.
But we can help create a solution by building universally accessible playgrounds. These public spaces are specifically designed so all children, including the 12.2 percent in Santa Cruz County with disabilities, can play together.
Thirty-four years after the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, these playgrounds still are not common. In 2020, LEO’s Haven at Chanticleer Park, our county’s first universally accessible playground opened and immediately became a well-loved and popular play space.
LEO’s Haven inspired Capitola to engage in a public-private partnership with County Park Friends to create a universally accessible playground at Jade Street Park. In 2023, Verde Design engaged the community through surveys and community meetings to create plans for the custom playground. Out of more than 71 proposed names for the playground, the Capitola City Council chose Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park to celebrate the treasured friendships that will be forged in Capitola’s Jewel Box neighborhood.
County Park Friends is working to raise $1 million for the playground from the community, while the city secures the balance of the estimated $1.83 million project. Separately the city will upgrade the community center and surrounding park, which sits on land that is leased from the Soquel Union Elementary School District until 2052.
Thanks to the generous support of our community, County Park Friends has already raised over $500,000 for the playground and is also grateful to announce that thanks to a local donor, every new gift will be matched dollar for dollar up to $200,000.
Your support will make a difference in the lives of thousands of children. To learn more or to contribute, please visit https://www.countyparkfriends.org/jadestpark. Thank you.
Dan Haifley is former executive director of O’Neill Sea Odyssey and Save Our Shores and is a volunteer fundraiser for Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park.