News

Nov 13, 2024

Tatum's Treehouse, a fully accessible playground in Carmel Valley, underway

A new fully accessible playground is underway in Carmel Valley. The organization behind the project is The Tatum’s Garden Foundation, which also created a fully accessible playground in Salinas over

A new fully accessible playground is underway in Carmel Valley.

The organization behind the project is The Tatum’s Garden Foundation, which also created a fully accessible playground in Salinas over 10 years ago.

They partnered with the Carmel Valley Community Youth Center to create this new inclusive playground.

Construction began on Monday, and volunteers from across the Central Coast have already stepped up.

The playground will allow children with disabilities to play with able-bodied children.

"We might be a little different or look different or get around the world differently, but we still like to meet in the middle when it comes to play," Tatum’s mom and founder of the Tatum’s Garden Foundation, Amanda Bakker, said.

The playground will be named Tatum’s Treehouse. The inspiration comes from Amanda’s 14-year-old daughter, Tatum Bakker, who has spina bifida.

"It was something I never even considered until we had our two-year-old little girl order her first wheelchair," Amanda Bakker said. "And the realization that, wow, there are places in this world that are going to be really hard for her to access and get around."

The Bakkers said the project is not only funded by the community, but the community had a say in the design, which is heavily influenced by the nature of Carmel Valley.

"It’s super cool to see people from all ages, all walks of life come together as a community and put this whole thing together," apprentice carpenter and volunteer Aaron Garcia said.

Even with the Monday rain, volunteers were not afraid to get muddy as they stayed to work and lay the playground's foundation.

The project should be complete by Sunday; however, volunteers are still needed until the end of the week.

There are three different shifts available each day, from early in the morning to late at night. Plus, volunteers get free childcare and meals.

You can sign up to volunteer or donate on the Tatum’s Treehouse website.