Playground
the Novato Unified School District population receiving special education services in the current school year — which is an increase of 6.7% percent since 2017 — it is clear there is a growing need for inclusive play structures and opportunities within our city,” Katie Gauntlett, the city parks director, told the council on Tuesday.
The new playgrounds are set to open this summer.
Eli Gelardin, chief executive officer of the Marin Center for Independent Living, said accessibility and equal access to all public spaces is a top priority for the organization.
“When you're talking about recreational spaces and a playground, children with disabilities and parents and grandparents with disabilities need access to these spaces for everyone's well being,” Gelardin said. “As a disabled parent and having a disabled child myself, I absolutely would love to see further examples like what Novato is doing at Pioneer
Park.”
To pay for the replacement of the larger playground, the City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to set aside $520,000 toward the project as well as an estimated $275,000 it is expected to receive from its insurance claim following the arson. The city had previously approved $290,000 for the smaller playground.
The $520,000 allotment will be withdrawn from the city's Quimby Act account, which is funded through fees paid to the city by developers of residential subdivisions who choose not to dedicate part of their subdivision as parkland. The fee payments are used to add or maintain parkland, open space, community centers and
trails.
The city will hold a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 30 to hear comments from the public on other parks projects it wants to see in the coming years.
The city is drafting a parks master plan for future parks and recreation projects. More information can be found at bit. ly/3ZP9jpm.