TeWinkle selected for special playground

Deirdre Newman

When Costa Mesa resident Doug Hansen wants to take his daughter to a

playground, he doesn’t have a lot of options.

His daughter Angel was born with multiple birth defects and can

neither communicate nor walk.

The void of playgrounds in Orange County with equipment tailored

to kids with disabilities inspired Hansen and his wife, Jennifer, to

suggest one be built in Costa Mesa. They offered to pay for the

equipment through a charity they set up in honor of their daughter.

City officials were receptive to the idea and thought TeWinkle

Park would be the perfect place because of its central location and

amenities. Because the project is eligible for a state grant of up to

$1 million, the city is using the grant opportunity to add

improvements to nearby facilities, such as restrooms and picnic

shelters.

“It went from a $250,000 project to a $1-million [project],” Doug

Hansen said. “Not to be speechless, but I’m close to it.”

The playground will be designed for disabled children to play with

their friends and family, with no entrance fees. The new playground

would replace the existing play structure and swing-set in the

northern area of the park, just west of Junipero Drive. This

playground complies with the minimum standards of the Americans with

Disabilities Act but has some barriers that impede disabled children.

The new playground would include traditional equipment such as

swings and slides and more unusual parts like a rubberized floor

surface, a ramp that goes throughout the entire structure and

interactive panels with features like Braille lettering, Doug Hansen

said.

The grant requires a minimum of 25% in matching funds. Angels

Charity is raising funds to come up with about $300,000, Doug Hansen

said.

The city will use the charity’s funds to increase its chances of

getting the grant, city management analyst Donna Theriault said.

The Costa Mesa Community Foundation is helping Angels Charity

raise money, at the Hansens’ request, Chairwoman Mary Hornbuckle

said.

“We are enthusiastically behind it,” Hornbuckle said. “We think

it’s a wonderful program and are very excited it will be happening in

the city.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers government. She may be reached at (714)

966-4623 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.