A SALINAS COUPLE, WHO WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND IN SALINAS, IS BEING HONORED IN THE NATION’S CAPITOL. AMANDA AND SHAWN BAKKER RECEIVED THE LOCAL JEFFERSON AWARD FOR SPEARHEADING TATUM’S GARDEN (WHICH IS NAMED AFTER THEIR DAUGHTER WHO HAS SPINA BIFIDA). THEY WERE ALSO NOMINATED TO REPRESENT THE CENTGRAL COAST AT THE NATIONAL JEFFERSON AWARDS IN WASHINGTON, D-C…..WHERE THE WERE AWARDED TE JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASIS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE BENEFITTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
NUMBER 2 ON THE LIST (OF THE 30 MOST IMPRESSIVE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS IN THE WORLD), THE 20-THOUSAND SQUARE-FOOT PLAYGROUND IS COVERED IN CUSHIONING RUBBER, AND FILLED WITH WHEELCHAIR-FRIENDLY RAMPS AND STRUCTURES (FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS). THE PARK OPENED TO THE PUBLIC LAST DECEMBER.
