A Palo Alto woman who opened the first inclusive playground in the Bay Area for people of all abilities is spreading her magic throughout the region and beyond.
The Magical Bridge Playground at Red Morton Community Park in Redwood CIty is an innovative playground where you can stomp your feet to hear drums and wave your hands to “play” the harp.
The sensory experience is part of a dream come true for Olenka Villarreal.
“It really brings the community together in a most magical way,” she said.
Thanks to Villarreal, people of all abilities can enjoy the playground where guests in wheelchairs can enjoy the whole space from the specially-designed equipment to the playhouse.
We first met Villarreal in 2014 when she broke ground on her first Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto after five years of hard work and raising $3 million in funding.
Villareal was inspired by her daughter, Ava, who has special needs. Today, Ava is 21 years old and she’s stood alongside Villarreal as their Magical Bridge Foundation has built nine playgrounds in the last decade.