The City of Rialto celebrated the grand opening of its first fully inclusive playground with a Grand Opening Ceremony at Rialto City Park on Friday, July 31. The new playground, themed “You Belong Here,” is designed to welcome children of all abilities to play side by side.
The playground has been designated a National Demonstration Site by PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research & Education (CORE). The distinction recognizes its adherence to the seven Principles of Inclusive Playground Design: Be Fair, Be Included, Be Smart, Be Independent, Be Safe, Be Active and Be Comfortable. The site also incorporates the Play On! curriculum, a standards-based physical education program developed with Shape America and Louisiana State University to promote fitness and active play for all children.
The fully inclusive playground is designed to accommodate a wide range of physical, sensory, cognitive and social abilities. The park features specialized poured-in-place surfacing so children using mobility devices can travel independently. Key highlights include roll-up musical play elements, a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round and a teeter-totter with safe transfer points. The space also incorporates an accessible rope climber and a unique roller slide that uses spinning rollers to provide gentle, calming sensory feedback while remaining cooler in direct sunlight.
These thoughtful design elements are aimed at closing the gap of routine exclusion that children with disabilities often experience at standard parks, giving every child in Rialto an opportunity to play. By offering activities where children can climb, spin and create music together side by side, the new facility helps build physical strength, confidence and friendships for all youth in the community.
The project was unanimously approved by the Rialto City Council and made possible through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, CDBG-CV funds and City general fund dollars, along with grants from the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) and GameTime. The playground was designed and built in partnership with Great Western.
“This playground is more than equipment; it’s an opportunity,” said Cynthia Alvarado-Crawford, director of parks, recreation and community services for the City of Rialto. “It’s the moment a child who has never simply been able to show up and play finally gets to do exactly that. Inclusion is not something you announce. It’s something you build, and our City Council has accomplished that.”
Friday’s celebration included remarks from Mayor Joe Baca, and Council Members Karla Perez and Edward Montoya Jr. In addition, Myles Harvey of Great Western spoke on behalf of the design and construction team, sharing more about the playground’s national recognition.
The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed immediately by the opening of the playground to the public.
The project was unanimously approved by the Rialto City Council and made possible through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, CDBG-CV funds and City general fund dollars, along with grants from the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) and GameTime. The playground was designed and built in partnership with Great Western.
“This playground is more than equipment; it’s an opportunity,” said Cynthia Alvarado-Crawford, director of parks, recreation and community services for the City of Rialto. “It’s the moment a child who has never simply been able to show up and play finally gets to do exactly that. Inclusion is not something you announce. It’s something you build, and our City Council has accomplished that.”
Friday’s celebration included remarks from Mayor Joe Baca, and Council Members Karla Perez and Edward Montoya Jr. In addition, Myles Harvey of Great Western spoke on behalf of the design and construction team, sharing more about the playground’s national recognition.
The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed immediately by the opening of the playground to the public.