Redwood City’s brand new Magical Bridge Playground in Red Morton Park will open on Tuesday, Dec. 1, with added protocols to ensure it remains safe to use amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the city.
Starting Dec. 2, the special playground will be open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to dusk, unless otherwise noted. On opening day, the playground will open at 11 a.m. and close at dusk.
Magical Bridge Playground, a partnership between the city and the Magical Bridge Foundation, is a concept developed first in Palo Alto that employs a design that is socially inclusive for children and adults of varying physical and cognitive abilities. Construction of the roughly 1-acre park was estimated to cost $6.8 million, of which $3.3 million was fundraised by the Foundation and the rest paid for via the city’s Park Impact Fees imposed on residential development projects.
The COVID-19 pandemic has added a challenge to the playground’s grand opening. To maintain safety, city officials say they’re implementing rules and guidelines specific to the playground, including providing staff and volunteers (called Kindness Ambassadors) to support keeping the community safe while they play.
For example, entry will be limited to two lower gates — the North Entrance on the Veterans Memorial Senior Center side, and the South Entrance at the Valota Road parking lot. Capacity is limited to 75 visitors on the playground, and socially distanced lies will form outside the two lower gates when the playground has reached capacity. The Magical Bridge Team will monitor capacity. Like all city playgrounds, visits are limited to 30 minutes per group while others are waiting. Hand washing stations are available onsite, and the restroom will also be open.
Staff will not be cleaning the playground throughout the day, so visitors are encouraged to bring their own wipes and self-clean any high-touch surfaces before using them.
Of course, face masks will be required of every individuals entering the playground age 2 and up. For those who cannot wear a mask, staff will provide a sticker for them to wear.
Please be kind to staff and volunteers, and to those wearing the stickers, city officials said.
For more information on the rules and updates on the playground, visit the Redwood City parks blog here and Magical Bridge Foundation website here.
Photos credited to the City of Redwood City
