What began as Olenka Villarreal’s quest to create an “accessible” park, turned into a seven year journey of a lifetime and ultimately one magical new space in Palo Alto called the Magical Bridge playground. There was no way of knowing that the real work for Olenka was not behind, but in front of her, once the playground opened last April.

Requests to replicate Magical Bridge poured in from around the world as media heralded it as the “nation’s most innovative inclusive playground.” With this global appeal for design help, came the realization that there was a immediate need to advocate for the many living with autism, visual and hearing limitations, those with cognitive differences and too many others. It was astounding that a group of volunteers in Palo Alto had created a playground that excited communities around the world!

The urgent need to create a playground which surpassed ADA standards was the drive behind the vision for Magical Bridge. Olenka and team knew that, as a community resource, a playground must reflect the needs of everyone in a community. Such a simple concept and yet, no such playground were yet to be found.

With an overwhelming demand for more playgrounds like Palo Alto’s Magical Bridge, it was clear the play space paradigm needed a profound shift. This new year begins with key members from the original team introducing a new non-profit called Magical Bridge Foundation which aims to ignite and support a global movement that advocates truly inclusive play and we invite you join this exciting vision!

Earning an undergraduate degree from Pomona College and MBA from Golden Gate University, Olenka Villarreal spent 18 years working with start-up and technology companies in Silicon Valley. When her second daughter was born with disabilities in 2003, she turned her focus on improving the quality of life of those with disabilities. In addition to being Founder of the Magical Bridge project and now Magical Bridge Foundation, Olenka guest teaches at Stanford, serves on the Board of Directors for Life Services Alternatives and Friends of the Palo Alto Parks and is a frequent speaker about magic of inclusion. In June 2014, she was presented with the prestigious Jefferson Service Award in recognition of her efforts to make the Magical Bridge Playground a reality.