The Rotary PlayGarden is the Rotary Club of San Jose’s centennial gift to the community. Rotary’s goal was to provide an inclusive place to play for all children and their families so they solicited input from the Santa Clara County Office of Education, San Andreas Regional Center, city parks staff, and families raising children with disabilities to determine what features to include. The proposal
for the PlayGarden went to the San Jose City Council after it had adopted a resolution in 2010 that no new parks would be built unless they had a privately funded maintenance plan. Recognizing that the city’s lack of operations and maintenance funds could jeopardize the project, Guadalupe River Park Conservancy (GRPC) assumed responsibility for ongoing maintenance so the PlayGarden could move forward. The resulting PlayGarden design incorporates
standard play elements and adds adaptive swings, a wheelchair-accessible merry go round, kinetic art, sensory experiences, and much more. The design takes advantage of the proximity to Mineta San Jose International Airport and features the wildlife found along Guadalupe River. Rotary collected over 400 donations from members, individuals, corporations, government agencies, and foundations to fund the project. The stunning six-million-dollar project, which includes a new parking lot and reconfigured intersection, creates an inviting place for children with disabilities to play alongside their siblings and friends. GRPC's goal is for the PlayGarden to be the cleanest and safest park in the South Bay. To achieve that goal, the entrance is staffed, and dogs, bicycles, skateboards, inflatables, and BBQs are not allowed inside. Hours vary by season and are 10 am to 6:30 pm daily during the spring and summer and 10 am to 4:00 pm the rest of the year. Two group areas can be reserved in advance; all other areas/tables are first come, first served. Proceeds from reservations are spent to maintain the PlayGarden. Guadalupe River Park Conservancy (GRPC), a
non-profit organization, provides community
leadership for the development and active use of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens through education, advocacy and stewardship. GRPC produces Pumpkins in the Park and the Super Guadalupe River Run, provides hands-on, science-based education in the park for nearly 5,000 students each year, and coordinates over 17,000 volunteer hours each year in service of the park. GRPC also provides programming in the PlayGarden. GRPC is raising money for the PlayGarden’s
programming and upkeep; please consider making a tax-deductible donation at www.grpg.org.
