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Parent urges Boonville to build inclusive playground; city staff pledge follow-up
Summary
Kristen O'Brien told the council her son Sebastian cannot use existing playgrounds because they lack adaptive swings and sensory-friendly features, and offered to lead fundraising and a parents' committee; the city administrator said staff would meet and identified Fox Hollow Park as a promising site for an inclusive project.
Kristen O'Brien, speaking during the public-comment portion of the Boonville City Council meeting on July 1, asked the council and parks staff to support an accessible, inclusive playground for children with disabilities.
"There are no adaptive or wheelchair swings, no inclusive equipment meant to be enjoyed simultaneously by children of all kinds of abilities," O'Brien said, describing her 4-year-old son Sebastian as nonverbal and unable to use existing play equipment. She said her family and a committee of parents are willing to help plan and raise funds and that local therapists have offered design advice.
City Administrator (unnamed in the transcript) told the council he and staff have been communicating with O'Brien and plan to meet to discuss options. The administrator identified Fox Hollow Park as a "prime location for some future all inclusive park," and said staff were open to smaller accessibility additions at other sites such as Harley, Rolling Hills or Kemper.
O'Brien and council members discussed next steps: O'Brien offered to help with fundraising and planning; council and staff agreed to meet to explore design, funding and potential timing. No budget or formal appropriation for an inclusive playground was approved at the July 1 meeting.
The exchange closed with a request that the topic be placed on the city's work list and with staff committing to follow up with O'Brien. The council suggested the item could be placed in an upcoming budget discussion or pursued through local agency funding and community fundraising.
