No Barriers

Empowerment Park promises access for every kid

By Rebecca Kuzins
September 2024

Empowerment Park beckons like no other local park. Located on Bell Street between Northrup Avenue and Hurley Way, Empowerment Park is designed for all children, including those with disabilities.

“There’s nothing sadder than a kid on the outside of a playground looking in because he’s not able to play. This will change that. This is a barrier-free, all-abilities park, where everyone can play together, side by side,” says Mike Grace, executive director of Sacramento Parks Foundation, the organization behind Empowerment Park (also known as emPOWERment Park).

Construction is set to start in September, with completion in May 2026.

The park’s prominent feature is a two-story tower with ramps leading to a slide at the top. The ramps have play stations for children in wheelchairs. The slide includes platforms where children can move in and out of their chairs.

The tower is an important piece of equipment because “kids in wheelchairs rarely have access to go up high,” Grace says.

Sensory walls will feature textures, colors and moveable parts important for children with sensory challenges. A park map will include braille, a 3-D relief projection, audio directions and contrasting colors to engage children with visual impairment.

One area holds equipment for youngsters ages 2 to 5. Imagine buildings with slides, window cutouts and other play areas, plus swings, roller slides and a rocker seating several children, wheelchairs included.

Children ages 5 to 12 will enjoy the tower, roller slides, rocker and other equipment. Another area holds a sports court with basketball hoops at various heights and different angled backboards to allow children of all abilities to sink baskets.

The park includes an Energy Village with sensory boards and pictures relating to electricity and hydroelectric power. This area is a nod to SMUD, which owns the land. After completion, the park moves under Mission Oaks Recreation & Park District.

The parks foundation and four local park districts conceived of Empowerment Park in 2017. The foundation conducted public outreach and got the project rolling. But pandemic lockdowns delayed construction.

The foundation was ready to start construction in October 2022. Then permit problems with the county delayed the work. Approvals arrived in June.

Delays were expensive. Grace says construction costs increased from around $8 million to $10 million.

The foundation has raised about $8.5 million. The money includes a $6.3 million grant from state parks, $1 million in federal funds, $750,000 from the Mission Oaks district and a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant.

Sacramento Parks Foundation is raising money to complete the project. To help, visit sacparksfoundation.org, then emPOWERment Park.

Rebecca Kuzins can be reached at kuzins63@att.net. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.