Davis Parks Make Life Better

City of Davis, California recently completed the transformation of play spaces in five local parks. Each of the park playgrounds is updated with modern play systems compliant with current safety standards and ADA accessibility guidelines and designed for the specific needs of the surrounding neighborhoods. The project was made possible, in part, by grant funding from GameTime.

Slide Hill Park has been transformed with a nature-themed play structure, picnic pavilion, and tire swing

The new playgrounds were designed with assistance from Kelly Oakes of MRC Recreation, GameTime's exclusive representative for Northern California. Oakes worked closely with city leaders and recreation advocates to create play spaces that met the developmental needs of children and provided a high play value for the overall community. The project began in fall of 2018 and together they completed the revitalization of Slide Hill Park, Arroyo Park, Covell Greenbelt, Hacienda Park and Evergreen Park in time for summer.

This one-of-a-kind play structure at Evergreen Park was created specifically for the way preschoolers play. 

Existing playground equipment at each of the parks was 20-30 years old and no longer met local or national standards for public parks. In some cases, the play activities weren't age-appropriate or developmentally beneficial for the children who used the parks. Special care was taken to create play environments that addressed specific needs today, as well as the community needs of the future. Spencer Cheak, president of GameTime, remarked, "What the City of Davis has done with the revitalization of these five beautiful parks promotes a higher quality of life for the people who visit today, and for generations of families to come. We are honored to be a part of the Davis community."

The compact design of the PrimeTime play system at Hacienda Park allowed room for freestanding play activities.

Each of the five new playgrounds throughout the City of Davis represents the ongoing commitment of the city's leaders to promote outdoor recreation, better health and wellness, and first-rate amenities for families. They were designed using evidence-based research from GameTime's parent company, PlayCore, and are recognized as National Demonstration Sites. As such, these spaces are more than places to play. They are community destinations that bring people together, break down barriers and improve the overall quality of life for everyone. Congratulations to the City of Davis! Every slide, climber, and swing open up new and unlimited possibilities for children's imaginations, physical development, and emotional well-being.