About Joy Playground

All-inclusive playground for people of all ages and abilities.

Joy Playground is SLO County's first fully inclusive playground geared towards children and adults with special needs at Colony Park in Atascadero. The playground was made possible by the partnership between the City of Atascadero and Parents for Joy, a group of dedicated volunteers who saw a need within the community and worked tirelessly to advocate, fundraise, and coordinate the construction. The City of Atascadero revised their Master Plan, creating space for Joy Playground within Colony Park, and allocated $505,000 of their budget to go toward construction costs.

History of Joy Playground

Joy Playground started in 2013 with Parents For Joy, a group of parents, families, and friends living in and around the small town of Atascadero, who have children or family members with special needs. They saw a need for a playground in the community that would enhance the safety and involvement of children with special needs such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorders, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Visual Impairment, just to name a few.

Their vision was to one day see their children playing together with other children, raising awareness, and building friendships and, of course, having fun! With this in mind, Parents for Joy approached the City of Atascadero and worked with GameTime to develop a playground that would truly be all-inclusive, with features including a fully fenced enclosure, poured-in-place rubber, a wheelchair-accessible tree structure, a stainless steel slide, twelve swings, along with many other fun play structures.

United Cerebral Palsy of SLO and Parents Helping Parents saw the vision for Joy Playground early on and stepped in to help guide the process.

The City of Atascadero revised their Master Plan to create space for Joy Playground within Colony Park and allocated $505,000 of their budget in 2017 to go toward the costs of constructing the playground. Many other community partnerships were developed along the way, such as with the Kiwanis Club of Atascadero, Idler’s Home, and Atascadero State Hospital.

Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony in 2018. On April 5, 2019, Joy Playground officially opened as a City park after over six years of Parents for Joy’s research, fundraising, and collaborating! Since then Joy Playground has become a huge attraction in Atascadero as families from all over the Central Coast come to enjoy our all-inclusive playground!

In 2022 Parents Helping Parents officially took over oversight of fundraising and community relations for Joy Playground and related projects. We strive to honor the legacy of the Parents for Joy members who worked so hard to make their dream a reality that benefits us all.

Unique Features Designed Specifically with Safety in Mind:

  • Wheelchair Accessible
  • Fully fenced to prevent "eloping"
  • Poured-in-Place Rubber, universal ground cover
  • Treehouse with wide ramps
  • 2 standard belt swings, 2 infant/tot swings, 2 special swings for parent & child to face eye-to-eye, and 4 Zero-G swings (2 with a max weight of 50 lbs and 2 with a max weight of 150 lbs; with harness)
  • Arch swing: accommodates multiple kids seated or one kid lying down
  • Rock n Raft: fits 6 kids and wheelchair; gently rocks
  • Merry Go All: 4 seated and 4 standing
  • Whirlin' Robin: egg seat for vestibular stimulation
  • Dragonfly teetertotter
  • Spinning seat
  • Stainless steel slide for cochlear implants
  • Tactile features for visual impairment or sensory issues
  • And much more!

Joy Playground is a City Park

If you have any questions or concerns about the safety/maintenance of the playground, please email the Atascadero Public Works Department at pwops@atascadero.org or call 805-461-5000.

Parents Helping Parents is not responsible for day-to-day operations at the playground.

After hours, please call the non-emergency line Police Dispatch at 805-461-5051.

For inquiries about fundraising events and other ways to get involved, please contact Parents Helping Parents.

Parents Helping Parents