Aidan's Place Reimagined Inclusive Playground

A new take on an original inclusive playground

The original Aidan’s Place, build in 2002, was the second fully accessible playground in the USA. When Aidan Gaffney was a child, his family would drive him to Los Angeles’s inclusive Shane’s Inspiration, so that he could play where his wheelchair was accommodated. But Shane’s Inspiration was far across town, and Aidan would often be tired after the trip. So, the Gaffney family decided to build an inclusive playground on the West side of Los Angeles for local children like Aidan.

Aidan’s Place Reimagined, opened in December 2022, is a fresh take on the first Aidan’s Place. The playground is a Los Angeles-themed wonderland for children of all abilities. Located at the Westwood Recreation Center, it is “an opportunity for children of all abilities to come together and play, to dissolve harmful misconceptions and build bridges of friendship, understanding, dignity, respect and laughter,” according to Inclusion Matters® by Shane’s Inspiration Founder and CEO Tiffany Harris.

A mini-Los Angeles in playground form

Aidan’s Place Reimagined is a mini-Los Angeles in playground form. Highlights include a replica of a Los Angeles city bus and an “Aidan Air” airplane made from DigiFuse® panels. An LAX, Griffith Park and Hollywood sign, and of course, Los Angeles freeway signs make visitors feel at home. Custom PlayBooster® play structures offer multiple opportunities to slide and climb and are connected by accessible ramps. Inclusive versions of traditional playground equipment like the We-Saw® inclusive teeter-totter and the We-Go-Round® merry go offer wheelchair accessible fun for all. Shaded by a multicolored SkyWays® shade structure, the playground sits atop a freeway and airplane themed unitary play surface.