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Health & Fitness

Concord All-Abilities Playground Selected For Lions' Rose Parade Float

Concord's "Matteo's Dream – A Playground for Children of All Abilities" chosen from projects world-wide by Lions Club International for Tournament of Roses Parade float inspiration.

Out of the hundreds of Lions Club projects world-wide, Lions Club International has selected Concord’s “Matteo’s Dream – A Playground for Children of All Abilities” as the project that will be featured on their float for the 125th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2014 in Pasadena. The parade theme for 2014 is “Follow Your Dreams.”

The all-abilities playground opened in May 2007 in Hillcrest Park, 2050 Olivera Rd. The community designed and constructed facility was one of the first to be built in the Bay Area that allows children who cannot walk, see or hear to play safely alongside children who can.

“We are honored that Concord’s Matteo’s Dream will be featured in the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade,” says Concord Parks and Recreation Director Joan Carrico. “Without the Lions Club and resident Liz Lamach, we would not have this unique and well-loved playground in our community.”

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The project was spearheaded by Lamach, whose severely disabled son, Matteo, was in a wheelchair and was blind. Sadly, since the playground’s construction, Matteo has passed away.

Lamach, a member of the Concord Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission and the Lions Club of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, brought people together to make Matteo’s dream of an accessible playground a reality. Lions Club members raised $500,000 and solicited in-kind donations and volunteers to build the facility. More than 2,000 volunteers constructed Matteo’s Dream over a two week period. The City provided the site and $232,000 in park funds.

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The playground design was developed by Dennis Wille, a New York engineer, whose company, Leather’s & Associates, specialize in community-designed and built playgrounds.

For more information, contact Joan Carrico at (925) 671-3440.

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