Enabling playtime for all kids

Hundreds of restless children created a steady, excited buzz that permeated the picnic shelter at Costa Mesa’s most handicap-accessible playground as they sat through an hour of tear-filled orations by countless dignitaries Friday.

Lists of thanks were given, proclamations recognizing all of the work that went into the one-of-a-kind Angels Playground were read, ceremonial ribbons were cut — then the kids were let loose.

Instantly the equipment was swarmed. There was no pause, no thought given to which kids were physically disabled and which kids were able-bodied. It was as though the playground were designed to erase any thought of differentiating from the children’s minds.

“It’s better than I could ever imagine,” said Judy Dunning, who wheeled her daughter, who has cerebral palsy, up the ramps to the top of the slides.

Angels Playground was designed so that most of the attractions are accessible for wheelchair-users. The jungle gym is connected by ramps, the swings have bucket seats, and a giant see-saw can accommodate multiple wheelchairs.

Mary Jasinski, who is paralyzed from the chest down, was one of the first kids to take advantage of the bucket swing set. The 6-year-old had never before been on a swing, and she had a look of ecstasy as her mother pushed her from the front and her big sister, Sophie, pushed her from the back.

“I feel really excited that she can play with me now,” Sophie said. “She couldn’t before because the stairs were blocking her way so she couldn’t really climb up and do it.”

Wheelchair-users made up only a small fraction of the excited crowd of boys and girls. Costa Mesans Luke Tsuge, 8, and Chase Manfre, 9, ran around with big smiles.

“This park has really fast slides,” Luke said.

“I like all of the colors,” said Katarina Freiberger.

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ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.