Novato's popular Pioneer Park has tossed its old swing set and seesaws and stepped into the future with a newly minted adaptive playground designed for kids of every stripe. According to a release from the city's website, this remodeled hotspot is now the proud holder of ramps, platforms, rubberized flooring, and inclusive whirls tailored for those with mobility issues.

In an apparent bid to make sure no child gets left in the proverbial dust, the park has also introduced expression swings with an adaptive seat, not to mention a sensory wave rock N raft that will make some waves. New benches and a fenced perimeter for safe play are spicing up the mix, which city wonks should be mighty proud of. There's even a promise of more shading and seats to come, right between the twin play structures that now grace the grounds, as per the city's grand plans.

And if that weren't enough to get you racing to 1007 Simmons Lane, note that Pioneer Park will now feature the city's first Picture Exchange Communication System (PEC Board). This device is designed to make playtime a chatty affair, even for those kids who find words as tricky as a game of Twister. Novato's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Katie Gauntlett gushed, "Novato now has two new state-of-the-art accessible playgrounds offering Novato Fun opportunities to children of all abilities."

Local families and city benefactors have dug deep to sprinkle some financial fairy dust on the project. From the Hennessy Fund to the Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise and even the Bank of Marin, it has been all hands on deck and wallets open. The community's largesse has transformed setbacks like fires and fallen oak trees into nothing but speed bumps on the road to inclusion—and caught the eye of GameTime, who've marked the spot as a “National Demonstration Site.”

For those itching for a taste of this community casserole, Novato invites the public to pick up Pioneer Park's new digs at leisure. However, if you're one for pomp and circumstance, you might want to hold your horses until Spring 2024, when the city will slice the ribbon on this inclusivity cake. Meanwhile, the curious can peek at novato.org/pioneerpark for the skinny on the entire revamp.