Imagine Playground
Imagine Playground is the Tri-Valley's first inclusive all-abilities playground, offering state-of-the-art play equipment for ages 2 to 12 and focuses on the foundations of development. GATES Studio led a multidisciplinary team to renovate the existing playground & restrooms at Dublin Sports Grounds into a recreation destination for a wide range of user groups.
The award-winning playground includes a variety of self-regulated, multi-sensory, and side-by-side play opportunities for each age and ability, music installations, and outdoor fitness equipment for ages 13+. The project also included an inclusive picnic area, a new pre-fabricated restroom, improved pathways for accessibility and connectivity, beautiful site furnishings throughout, and a public art sculpture at the entry by Barbara Grygutis called, "Conversation," which emphasizes people's ability to overcome differences and find common ground through conversation.
The $4 million playground was designed based on a robust community engagement process that intentionally included parents, caretakers, teachers, and administrators of special populations programs within the Dublin community. Participants across a myriad of ages and abilities were encouraged to provide feedback on the layout, play equipment, colors, and public art.
Completed in 2020
Dublin, CA
Awards
2021 Award of Excellence in Design - Park Planning
2022 NorCal APWA Project of the Year
From Ideas to Realization
Creating a shared vision with the community to inform the design concept
From grading concept to final preferred alternative (above) and final built design (below)
Photo credit: SPEC
Grand Opening, March 2021
Project Details
Birds eye view from Dublin Sports Grounds fields
Aerial of built playground
Outdoor fitness equipment for adults (photo credit: SPEC)
ADA-accessible picnic area (photo credit: SPEC)
All abilities climbing dome (photo credit: SPEC)