The playground, designed by Leathers and Associates, 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.

Located in Hillcrest Park, the playground project was spearheaded by Concord resident Liz Lamach whose son, Matteo, uses a wheelchair and is blind. As a member of the City of Concord Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission and the Lions Club of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, Lamach brought people together to make Matteo’s dream of an accessible playground a reality.

During the build that took place from April 20 to 29, 2007 over 2,000 volunteers constructed the massive playground, the largest in Concord covering an area a third the size of a football field.

The playground incorporated many accessible elements allowing children with disabilities to play alongside able-bodied children.  Accessible elements and fun features include:

• Wheelchair ramps allowing children in wheelchairs or walkers to be positioned on upper levels of the structure where they can “play on the colossal Rocking Boat and platform tree houses
• Visually impaired children have access to a sensory garden and tactile Alpine slide with three types of surfaces for children to feel
• High back swings
• Clear see through tunnel for autistic children who have difficulty transitioning from light to dark places.
• Low and high overhead ladders and sets of rings allow wheel chair access
• Large scale xylophone style instrument
• Water misters
• Aluminum slide was installed for children with cochlear implants.  Static derived from plastic slides fry the surgically implanted cochlear devices.  Slide surfaces stay cool even when temperatures exceed 90 degrees.
• Separated Tot Lot includes equipment suitable for the youngest children
• Entire playground surface is wheelchair friendly