Long Beach is requesting community feedback for the City’s inaugural universal playground through a needs assessment workshop or online survey.
El Dorado Park West’s new universal playground will be created to serve children with disabilities and neurodivergent children, along with their caregivers. Universal design principles equip features that support independence, social interaction and a sense of community.
Universal playgrounds consider a range of play experiences, such as sensory, cognitive and physical activities, while also integrating design elements that emphasize physical coordination, imaginative play, social inclusion and access to nature-based play.
The in-person needs assessment workshop will be held on Thursday, April 24 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Bridge Room at the Dr. Thomas J. Clark Community Center at El Dorado Park West (2800 N. Studebaker Road). During this event, attendees will hear a presentation on universal design principles and project details, such as budget and site constraints, then will be able to ask questions and voice feedback.
There will also be an interactive activity allowing participants to further assist with the development of the playground’s design. Interpretation services in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog will be available, along with American Sign Language and live captioning.
Those who are unable to attend the workshop are invited to complete the City’s online survey by Monday June 30. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog.
Input received from the survey will inform the proposed universal playground’s design. Community members with limited access to a computer or smartphone may visit any Long Beach Public Library location during business hours to use a public computer in completing the survey.
The City’s objective to incorporate more inclusive park elements under the Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan is influenced by the principles of universal design, which center on inclusivity and accessibility for users of varying abilities. Elevate ‘28 is a five-year initiative to revitalize Long Beach’s parks, community facilities and multimodal transportation options.
The proposed playground at El Dorado Park West would be the city’s first universal playground, but universal design elements are present in the Silverado and Ramona Park Signature Playground Projects, both of which broke ground last month.
The El Dorado Universal Playground Project is aiming to enhance the park’s aging infrastructure, alongside other Elevate ‘28 projects focusing on paving, wayfinding and parking lot improvements that are in progress, along with upcoming improvements at the sports fields.
There will be more opportunities for community input on the project once a concept design is developed. To find project updates and complete the survey, visit longbeach.gov/eldoprojects.
