Magical Bridge Playground Breaks New Ground
A Playground for Everybody
by Jordan Rosenthal
When Shirlee Locicero , a retired teacher in Morgan Hill , was still teaching , she grew increasingly frustrated watching children with disabilities at recess time miss out on the playground their able-bodied peers used with ease .
Shirlee ’ s husband , Ron Locicero , a retired teacher and current Commissioner for the Parks and Recreation Commission in Morgan Hill , recounted , “ Shirlee said it didn ’ t seem right , that these kids deserved to play , too . That stuck in our heads ,” Ron said .
When years later the couple heard about a unique playground in Salinas called Tatum ’ s Garden , a park designed to accommodate children of all abilities , they were inspired to help bring the same kind of park to Morgan Hill . That idea would take many years “ a lot of hard work , phone calls and go-tos ” to come to fruition , Ron said , but at last , in the summer of 2021 , the Magical Bridge Playground in Morgan Hill will open to all children , of all abilities , for play .
What makes this playground different from others is that it is designed for inclusivity in both body and mind . “ It ’ s a playground for everybody ,” said Chris Ghione , Public Services Director for the City of Morgan Hill . “ You can have fun whether you have a disability or not .”
The park offers a number of unique features including : a spinning zone for kids who enjoy the whirlwind of movement ; a special slide with a ramp that allows children who use wheelchairs to gain access ; and swings that can accommodate children using wheelchairs and their caregivers , among others . Shirlee describes her favorite swing , “ The expression swing .
The parent sits on one side and the child sits on the other side . This way they ’ re facing each other and not just pushing the children from behind .”
Additionally there is a “ magical laser harp ” that children can walk beneath and make music by simply interacting with their hands and body , Shirlee explained .
For children who may become easily overwhelmed , there are “ retreat huts ,” which Ghione describes as “ little balls designed for children who might have autism or who get stressed out easily , where they can just kind of ball up inside and hang out .”
There ’ s even a two-story treehouse , sponsored by the Edward Boss Prado Foundation , that is accessible to anyone , even if they have mobility issues or use a wheelchair .
Shirlee is also excited about the outdoor classroom for visiting classes to use . “ Teachers can easily adapt their lessons to the out-of-doors , and kids love it . There ’ s more motivation , they remember more and they ’ re better behaved ,” Shirlee said .
For Debbie Hernandez , a Morgan Hill mother of two children with special needs who was a key part of the project planning committee for the park , she sees it as a “ huge blessing ” for Morgan Hill . Hernandez has seen , too many times , what it ’ s like for her children to be unable to participate in most of the features of a regular park . “ I got involved in this project because my kids , and other families in Morgan Hill , were often pushed off to the side , treated as an inconvenience . I want us to be able to walk into a park that was made to accept everybody , where we feel welcome .”
48 SUMMER 2021 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com