Modesto Awarded $400,000 for Awesome Spot Playground

The City of Modesto is pleased to announce that they have been awarded $400,000 from the State of California for the construction of the Awesome Spot Playground at Beyer Community Park. Once complete, the Awesome Spot Playground will offer unique inclusive play opportunities for children and adults of all levels of ability.

Inspired by a dream of Modesto residents, the Loredo family, the Awesome Spot Playground will be an inclusive playground allowing adults and children of all physical, social, and emotional abilities to play together. An inclusive playground goes beyond wheelchair access or minimum ADA accessibility standards to create a sensory-rich and engaging place for play experiences that meet a variety of needs and interests.

“The Awesome Spot Playground will be a unique feature for the residents and guests of Modesto providing a safe and enjoyable place for all children, regardless of physical, mental, or emotional ability to play and to just be children,” said Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen. “I want to thank our state representatives Senators Susan Eggman and Marie Alvarado-Gil and Assemblymember Juan Alanis for making inclusive play a priority in the state budget.”

The Awesome Spot Playground, located at Beyer Community Park, is a Public-Private Partnership bringing together local government, businesses, non-profits, and community members to work together for a common goal. The City has already committed $880,000 in contributions and in-kind services.  As a part of Modesto’s legislative priorities, they are also seeking state and federal funds to help complete the project. With this state grant, the City will be investing over $1.2 million towards the project. The project officially broke ground last year and preliminary construction work has already begun.

The Awesome Spot has reached 75% of its fundraising goal and there are some play features still waiting to be sponsored. An individual, business, or organization can be the playground name sponsor or sponsor a playground feature like the Rainforest Excursion, Savana Safari, or the Swamp Cruise.  For more information about the Awesome Spot Playground and ways you can help this awesome dream become a reality, visit the Awesome Spot Playground website.

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