Ribbon cutting celebrates new playground in Esparto

Supervisor Angel Barajas celebrates the opening of a new playground in Esparto with a ribbon cutting alongside community members and his fellow board colleagues on July 17. The playground was designed to be fully ADA-compliant, ensuring accessibility for all children. COURTESY PHOTOS

Supervisors Oscar Villegas, Jim Provenza, Mary Vixie Sandy, Lucas Frerichs and Angel Barajas gather on the new playground in Esparto on July 17. The supervisors celebrated the opening of the playground with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

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In July, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Esparto Community Park to celebrate the installation of a new playground structure, an initiative driven by community involvement.

On Wednesday, July 17, Yolo County Supervisor Angel Barajas, alongside his board colleagues, led the event, which saw an enthusiastic turnout of over 150 attendees.

The event was not only a celebration of the new playground but also a showcase of community collaboration. Various services and programs were offered by the Esparto Library, Children’s Mental Health and Yolo Child Welfare RFA Program, adding to the festive atmosphere. Special thanks were extended to Yolo County Parks for their crucial role in executing this successful event.

The journey to this significant event began with the $228,000 investment, funded by the State’s Proposition 68 Parks Program. On July 11, 2023, Barajas and the Yolo County Parks Department hosted a community engagement event to vote on the new playground structure.

The July 11 event presented three adaptable play structure options for children ages 5 to 12, each featuring inclusive activities based on the Seven Principles of Inclusive Playground Design. The winning structure, which received 53 votes of approval, was designed to be fully ADA-compliant, ensuring accessibility for all children. This marks the first significant upgrade to Esparto Park in over 25 years.

During the ribbon-cutting event, remarks were delivered by Supervisor Barajas and his board colleagues. Supervisor Barajas emphasized the importance of the community and their involvement in the decision-making process.

“Today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony marks a significant milestone for Esparto Community Park and highlights the incredible power of community involvement,” Barajas said. “The enthusiastic turnout and support from our residents show just how important this new playground is to our town. We are proud to unveil this ADA-compliant structure, chosen by the community for the community.”

Yolo County Supervisor Chair Lucas Frerichs acknowledged the state’s role and the positive outcomes that the new structure will create.

“The voters of California supported the parks bond (Prop. 68 in 2018), and we’re grateful for the investment of state bond funds in this amazing new community amenity,” Frerichs said. “This new playground is also so important for physical, emotional and mental health and well-being for all the families and kids in the Esparto community.”