Project Spotlights

Concord, CA

May 16, 2007, marked the grand opening of Matteo's Dream. The playground is 100% accessible and is named for a 7-year-old Concord boy who is blind, has mental disabilities and uses a wheelchair. His mother, Liz Lamach, began planning and fundraising for the playground 6 years before it was completed. The playground was built in 8 days by a few thousand volunteers. "I'm speechless. This is bigger and more spectacular than anything I ever imagined," said Liz.

Liz and other volunteers interviewed 2,000 disabled children and their parents and doctors. Funds came from the City of Concord (which also donated the land), the Lions Club, the Lesher Foundation, private grants, and individual donors. "I got involved when Liz pointed out that there are kids who have never been down a slide," said Dean Cofer, who works with Liz. "How can you come up with a better project than that?"

Dennis Wille, the Leathers' designer of the playground, said that to his knowledge, the scope and mission of Matteo's Dream is unprecedented. "The accessibility is pushed to an extreme," said Dennis. The entire playground is surfaced with rubber, so wheelchairs and walkers can get around easily. The playground includes a long, curving ramp that leads to a wheelchair-accessible treehouse. There are textured slides for blind kids and metal slides for kids with cochlear ear implants. The ramps and pathways are wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass.

Ironically, Matteo's disabilities will limit his unassisted use of the playground. But that won't stop him from enjoying it. "He loves to be in the middle of kids playing," said Liz. "He's pretty thrilled about this, even though he doesn't quite get the concept." On opening day, Liz couldn't wait to go down one of the slides with Matteo on her lap.

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