A Magical Beginning to 2025 with the Grand Opening of Magical Bridge Playground at Mountain View’s Rengstorff Park
Newest all-inclusive playground offers play to all
Mountain View, Calif. — On Saturday, Jan. 25, the City of Mountain View and Magical Bridge Foundation held the grand opening of the award-winning Magical Bridge playground at Rengstorff Park, 201 S. Rengstorff Ave.
Located between the Mountain View Community Center’s parking lot and tennis courts, the playground provides an innovative play area and companion programming intentionally designed to welcome people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
“Celebrating our newest inclusive playground – a play space for all ages and physical and cognitive abilities – is a great way to start the new year,” said Mayor Ellen Kamei. “This custom playground has been in the works for several years, and it’s through a collaborative process that many magical play days are in store for our community. Thank you to all the partners and donors including the Magical Bridge Foundation, County of Santa Clara and former County Supervisor Joe Simitian who made bringing a Magical Bridge playground to Mountain View a reality.”
“Our goal was to serve as a catalyst - to inspire additional funding and spark a movement of inclusion and equity,” said former Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, who initially proposed the County’s All-Inclusive Playground Grant Program. “We envisioned creating a network of all-inclusive playgrounds, and thanks to our matching grant program, we’ve made that vision come to life with the latest playground now available to the community in Mountain View.”
Current Santa Clara County District 5 Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga served on the Mountain View City Council when the Council moved forward with bringing a Magical Bridge playground to Mountain View in October 2017.
“The Magical Bridge playground is not just a space for play—it’s a space that breaks down barriers and fosters connections,” said Supervisor Abe-Koga. “It’s a place where every child, regardless of their abilities, can feel included and celebrated. This playground represents our commitment to equity and inclusion, embodying the values that make Mountain View and Santa Clara County vibrant and welcoming places to live.”
“At Magical Bridge, we are proud to create welcoming community spaces in ways we need today more than ever,” said Olenka Villarreal, Magical Bridge Foundation Founder and CEO. “We welcome Mountain View to our family of cities that invite us to their community as a way to celebrate all ages and abilities with this truly magical playground.”
With its innovative design and commitment to inclusivity, the playground features:
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Innovative Play Zones: Thoughtfully designed areas that foster physical, cognitive, and imaginative play for people of all abilities.
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Barbara Butler Treehouse: Two-story fully wheelchair accessible space for imagination, fun and stage performances
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Kindness Corner: A dedicated space promoting connection, kindness, and social inclusion.
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Unique Equipment: Features like high-back swings, spinning zones, and tactile play elements, as well as ramps that accommodate mobility devices.
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Quiet Spaces: Custom Hideaway Huts for individuals who need a sensory break during play.
In conjunction with the playground project, the Community Center parking lot has been extended to include accessible parking stalls for playground and park users. New ADA compliant restrooms are also now constructed between the playground and tennis courts at Rengstorff Park.
The $7.3 million playground project is funded through the following sources:
- $3.3 million in City’s Park Land Dedication funds
- $1.7 million County of Santa Clara grant
- $1.2 million in Magical Bridge Foundation donations
- $230,000 California State Parks Bond per Capita grant
- $900,000 Community Benefit funds from Google
For more information about Mountain View’s Magical Bridge playground, visit MountainView.gov.
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