Overview

Gates Canyon Park is tucked in the Malibu Canyon at the northern reaches of Calabasas, California. This recreation area offers many amenities, including open grass spaces, two tennis courts, a basketball court, a sheltered pavilion, picnic areas, a fitness course, a home garden learning center, and a universally accessible children’s playground. Affectionally named Brandon’s Village Playground, this inclusive play area features a SpectraPour surfacing system.

Key Challenges and Solutions

The concept for Brandon’s Village was the vision of the Kaplan family, whose son, Brandon, was disabled and unable to enjoy the local parks fully. In 2005, they collaborated with the City of Calabasas, CA, and raised the necessary funds to create a cowboy-themed inclusive playground that opened in 2006. Since this time, children of all abilities have come here to play together; but, after nearly 20 years, the beloved play space was starting to show some wear. 

In 2021, the City of Calabasas Community Services team partnered with Unlimited Play to revitalize and enhance Brandon’s Village and ensure it was a 100% certified all-inclusive playground. This play space now includes:

• Play structure for children ages two to five-years-old
• Play structure for children ages five to 12-years-old
• Sandpit
• One-of-a-kind toddler play zone
• Landscaping to enhance accessibility and aesthetics
• Fencing around the play areas
• Playground entrance sign that reflects the new “above the tree line” playground theme
• SpectraPour poured-in-place playground surfacing

The imaginative “above the tree line” theme is reflected throughout the playground design with tree houses, tree toppers, and customized surfacing, which gives children the feeling of playing above the trees. Pacific Park and Playground provided all of the play equipment. The 15,000 square-foot SpectraPour surfacing system was tailored to feature animal tracks, trees, and a hawk that represents the City of Calabasas mascot. SpectraPour is a two-layer system that was mixed, poured, and troweled on-site. The base layer is composed of a shock-absorbing rubber material and the top layer features half-inch thick rubber granules. 

SpectraPour meets ADA requirements and is IPEMA certified for head impact protection and wheelchair accessibility. This surface’s shock-absorbing qualities make it the ideal safety surface for critical fall heights and ensure it’s comfortable for anyone walking or standing on it.

Brandon’s Village Playground reopened to the public in the Fall of 2024. All playground upgrades were made possible through the California State Parks Prop 68 Grant, which awarded the city $192,000, along with generous donations from community members and funding from the City of Calabasas.