Officials with the City of Santa Clarita hosted the grand opening of a “first-of-its-kind” Inclusive Play Area at Canyon Country Park Saturday morning.
WATCH LIVE: The grand opening for an inclusive playground at Canyon Country Park in Canyon Country is underway!
Posted by KHTS Radio on Saturday, January 25, 2020
Hundreds of children, parents and city officials gathered at Canyon Country Park on Saturday morning to celebrate the opening of the new Inclusive Play Area.
“The play area creates a space where people of all abilities can learn and play in a safe and welcoming environment,” said Santa Clarita City Mayor Cameron Smyth. “Projects like this are why we serve on the Council.”
All of the members of the Santa Clarita City Council were present, as well as State Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, and representatives from Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
“Every child deserves a great childhood, and I’m very excited about this park,” Wilk said.
The play area is open to all age groups and abilities, and is designed to be a place where youth can explore a variety of elements in the expansive western-themed space for the first time, according to City officials.
“To be able to provide our community with a first-of-its-kind play area is really what we believe is in our philosophy here in Santa Clarita,” Smyth said. “This is a great, great day.”
The Inclusive Play Area includes a number of features suggested by Santa Clarita residents throughout the public input process, including a dual-track inclusive zipline, sensory-friendly elements, accessible connections to existing facilities and a large shade structure to protect visitors from the sun in the summer months.
The play area welcomes everyone, regardless of age or ability, to “play, learn and grow together,” according to City officials.
The result is a place where residents and their children can go to have experiences that promote integrated play for all and develop physical, cognitive, sensory and social skills.
The Inclusive Play Area at Canyon Country Park is located at 17615 Soledad Canyon Road in Canyon Country.
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That’s wonderful, but, how about being inclusive by adding a restroom at the top park?!?! Families, elderly, ADA have to walk way down hill to use the restrooms!! How about installing another cell/clock towers at the top & having the cell owners pay for it with leases, etc.!?!
This is great! But it’s not “the first of it’s kind “. There’s at least 2 that I know of – Griffith Park and Agoura. Unless you meant the first of its kind in Santa Clarita. I applaud the politicians for stepping up and including children with disabilities. I’d like to see more inclusionary places. I have a 19 yr old daughter with disabilities and there wasn’t many places we could take her. Disneyland used to be good but they changed policies for the worse.
@JoJo
I’m not quite why can’t make a positive comment and be happy for the overall result, too this point.☺
Hi, Ken: Did make a positive point about the lower park! But, the upper park is not “inclusive” for ADA, elderly, etc! The overall, to include the upper park, would be inclusive for everybody!! A long walk down the hill for so many!
Marco: Great name!! They won’t listen, they’re already bought off!! All for the minority, not the majority!! Soooo many elderly/ADA who suffer from mobility!! Nice for a few, but, what about the majority?!?! The upper park is neglected!!