ABOUT 3 THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE SAID TO HAVE TURNED OUT LAST WEEK, TO HELP BUILD A SPECIAL PLAYGROUND IN SALINAS. TATUM’S GARDEN IS A FULLY INCLUSIVE, ACCESSIBLE, PLAYGROUND FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND ALL ABILITIES. IT IS NAMED AFTER TATUM BAKKER, A 2-AND-A-HALF YEAR-OLD SALINAS GIRL WITH SPINA BIFIDA. TATUM’S GARDEN IS LOCATED BEHIND SHERWOOD GARDENS, AT THE INTERSECTION OF MARYAL AND EAST BERNAL DRIVE. THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF THE PLAYGROUND, THE ACCESSIBLE RUBBER SURFACING, IS SET TO BE INSTALLED NEXT. THE GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW SALINAS PLAYGROUND IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN OCTOBER.
TATUM’S PARENTS GOT THE IDEA FOR THE ALL ACCESS PLAYGROUND, WHEN TATUM WAS ABLE TO PLAY IN A SIMILAR PLAYGROUND (DURING A FAMILY VACATION LAST SUMMER IN POCATELLA, IDAHO).
