A Playground for Everyone, Story and Photos By Kieran Kelly

COMMUNITY NEWS A Playground for Everyone

Story and Photos By Kieran Kelly

After much anticipation, the newly renovated playground at Hidden Beach County Park officially reopened to a crowd of excited children on Nov. 22.

The park, which had closed for two months of construction, now features new play structures and swings with a rubber play surface designed to improve accessibility for children of all abilities.

The Hidden Beach project follows on the successful completion of the LEO’s Haven inclusive playground at Chanticleer Park in Live Oak.

“If we start planning for our parks with every user in mind, we get a more valuable result for the community,” said Brenda Gutierrez, parks advocate and member of the Santa Cruz County Commission on Disabilities.

Those gathered to mark the occasion included the classmates and family of Jett Ramsey, a local boy who passed away at age 5 from brain cancer in April 2020.

Jett and his siblings frequently played at Hidden Beach Park and after his passing, friends and neighbors organized a successful fundraising campaign in his honor to replace the aging playground.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony came one day before what would have been his seventh birthday.

As part of the renovation, a nearby plaque honors the memory of Jett for those who loved him.

“It takes a village to get through what we have been through, and we wouldn’t haven’t been able to do it without the community’s support,” said Amy Ramsey, Jett’s mother.

Frank DeBernardo, a neighbor and friend of the Ramsey family, worked with County Park Friends, a local nonprofit, to raise $86,500 from the Aptos community to help fund the project.

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend secured matching funds through the Santa Cruz County budget to ensure the project came to fruition.

“Hidden Beach Park is a perfect Parents and kids attend the ribbon-cutting at newly renovated Hidden Beach County Park in Aptos. example of a community-driven partnership. From the commitment of neighbors, nonprofits, local businesses, and the County, an investment was made that will benefit families for a generation. It’s a beautiful testament to Jett and a testament to the love and commitment of our community,” said Supervisor Friend.

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