Universal playground planned for September

Calabasas hopes to complete Brandon’s Village, a universally accessible playground at Gates Canyon Park in Calabasas, by September, according to Jeff Rubin, the city’s community services director.

The Friedman Charitable Foundation recently gave the city of Calabasas $1 million to fund the construction of the special needs playground. According to city officials, Brandon’s Village will mirror the Shane’s Inspiration concept in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park.

Last night, the Calabasas City Council was scheduled to award an $875,000 contract to Shane’s Inspiration, the developer of universally accessible playgrounds, for the development and management of Brandon’s Village.

A universal playground is a place where children of all abilities—even those in wheelchairs and leg braces—can play together. Universal playgrounds are usually larger than standard ones and feature slightly modified equipment. Some of the swings, for example, have high backs or armrests to accommodate children with special needs. Children who use wheelchairs, walkers or canes can use at least 70 percent of the play equipment without leaving their support devices behind, officials said.

Rubin hopes the project will break ground in mid-March. He said construction will take about six months to complete.

“(The schedule) will get a little bit tighter once a contract to build or install is awarded,” Rubin said.

Brandon’s Village is named after Brandon Kaplan, a child with special needs. Brandon is the son of Dina Kaplan, who is on the playground’s steering committee.

To view the universally accessible playground at Griffith Park and for more details about what to expect in Calabasas, visit www.shanesinspiration.org.

—Michael Picarella