Local students get day of fun at Courtney’s SandCastle
Audrey Grant (center), an R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility staff member, enjoys time with students, Miley Muñoz and Finn Fraiser, at Courtney’s SandCastle. Photo: Jim Shilander
By Jim Shilander
Enjoying a playground on one of the last days of school isn’t remarkable. But what happened June 12, at Courtney’s SandCastle, was.
More than 70 young special needs students, along with their teachers, aides and parents, from R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility in Dana Point and Reilly Elementary School in Mission Viejo got a rare chance to play together at the universal-access playground in San Clemente.
Originally set for April, the event was postponed due to rain. But, it’s a delay that actually worked out well.
“The nice thing about it being the end of the year is that it’s kind of everyone coming together,” said Sharla Pitzen, executive director of Capistrano Unified School District’s Special Education program. “The two schools don’t get together, and so for them to be together today, to have conversations and get to see the kids, it’s an exciting opportunity to see them play and get them in another environment.”
Lucas Boucly, a student at the R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility, enjoys his time on the Courtney’s SandCastle universal access playground in San Clemente. Photo: Jim Shilander
The playground, which opened along with the Vista Hermosa Sports Park in 2012, was designed for just this kind of event: to allow children, who may have difficulty using traditional playgrounds, the means to access play-scape equipment in a safe way.
Twenty-one in attendance were in wheelchairs, while others received assistance from aides to navigate the park.
Students taking benefit of the sunshine that day had various handicaps across the special-needs spectrum, such as cerebral palsy, cognitive delays, autism and physical and developmental disabilities.
“This brings me goose bumps, seeing the kids here, actually playing and accessing the playground,” said Pitzen, who also serves on the Courtney’s SandCastle Foundation board. “We’ve got kids in wheelchairs up on top of the sandcastle. This is the best for me.”
Through years of fundraising efforts, donations and matching funds from the city of San Clemente, the foundation will break ground on the second playground phase Saturday, June 28. The project will add a sensory garden feature meant to stimulate all five senses for children with autism and sensory disabilities.
“This brings me goose bumps, seeing the kids here, actually playing and accessing the playground.”–Sharla Pitzen
All over the playground, students in brightly colored shirts explored without a care, and their adult caregivers, whether parents or school personnel, got to smile alongside them. Many were experiencing the park for the first time.
“This is one of the few times everybody can do stuff,” said Sheila Czajkowski, a kindergarten teacher at R.H. Dana ENF. “I have several students who are in wheelchairs and it’s fully accessible to them. We have a small playground, but nothing on this level. It’s really neat to see. The girls love the swing set and the opportunity to get out of their wheelchair for a change.”
The opportunity epitomized what the playground is all about, said Bill Thomas, a founder of the Friends of San Clemente Foundation, which helped raise money for the play place.
“This is the greatest day we’ve ever had here,” Thomas said. “You see the joy in these children, especially those who’ve never been on a swing before … It’s really thrilling.”
Pam Passow works a stone’s throw from the playground.
“This is amazing, I don’t think we’ve ever had this many special needs kids, along with other kids, here at the same time,” Passow, the city’s director of recreation, said. “We have kids of all abilities and they’re playing together and having fun. I love this. This is why I do what I do; it’s moments like this.”
Passow said classes had come to the playground before, on an individual basis, but this was the first time for such a large group. She hopes to continue the partnership in the future, and potentially use the site for organizations and schools throughout Orange County.
Audrey Grant, a staff member at R.H. Dana, said for many children, being able to manipulate all of the specialized equipment was a highlight, and the playground’s designs, incorporating a pirate ship and a castle, also helped spark their young imaginations.
“They can be the princess or the prince for the day,” Grant said. “It’s just a great place to be. I hope a lot of kids find more opportunities to come. It’s wonderful.”
Photo Gallery:
Harper Pettis, a student at R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility, enjoys the ride down the slide June 12 as she and 70 other area students explored San Clemente’s Courtney’s SandCastle. Photo: Jim Shilander
R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility student John Paul Allen gets help school employee John Williams at Courtney’s SandCastle on Thursday, June 12. Photo: Jim Shilander
Lucas Boucly, a student at the R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility, enjoys his time on the Courtney’s SandCastle universal access playground in San Clemente. Photo: Jim Shilander
R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility student Megan Powell has fun playing in the sand June 12. Powell, and dozens of her peers, visited a universal access play place in San Clemente. Photo: Jim Shilander