City of Concord Unveils Dual-Lane Inclusive Playground Zip Line and Shade Canopies at Newman Park in Monument Corridor

Park project managers with the City of Concord Public Works and Parks & Recreation Departments and neighborhood families from the Monument Impact coalition cut the ribbon on Sunday afternoon on a completely rebuilt all-abilities playground featuring a dual-lane inclusive zip line, poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing, and overhead UV shade canopies at Rick Seers Newman Park at 1155 Detroit Avenue (at Laguna Street) in Concord's Monument Corridor. Located within a five-minute walk of more than 1,800 multifamily residences and Meadow Homes Elementary School, Newman Park is one of central Concord's most heavily visited family gathering spaces.

Designed directly from bilingual English-and-Spanish youth design workshops held with neighborhood students, the centerpiece of the 7,400-square-foot play zone is a 65-foot double-cable SkyRun zip track. One lane features a traditional standing disc seat, while the parallel lane carries a high-back molded inclusive bucket seat with a five-point locking safety harness and a level wheelchair transfer deck so children with cerebral palsy or limited core strength can race alongside friends.

Surrounding the zip track, crews installed a multi-deck climbing tower with transfer platforms, an eight-child inclusive spinner flush with the blue-and-emerald EPDM rubber safety floor, and four tensioned fabric shade sails that block 94 percent of direct solar heat over the slides and tot swings. Along the perimeter walkway, six outdoor adult fitness stations with bilingual QR instructional videos allow parents to exercise while supervising play.

The $590,000 Newman Park renovation program was approved by the Concord City Council using California State Parks Statewide Park Program grant funds and Measure V capital funds. Residents can view Concord park amenities on the City of Concord Parks & Recreation Portal.