The Magical Bridge Palo Alto is a unique and inclusive playground located in Palo Alto, California. It is a community-driven project that aims to provide a safe and accessible play space for children and adults of all abilities. The idea behind the Magical Bridge began with a group of parents who recognized the need for a playground that could accommodate their children with special needs. They wanted a place where every child, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, could play and interact with others without limitations. The Magical Bridge Palo Alto features innovative and inclusive play elements, such as swings that can accommodate children with mobility challenges, accessible slides, sensory play areas, and a magical music area. Every aspect of the playground has been carefully designed to ensure that everyone can fully engage and have fun.
Hannah’s new novel is an homage to the extraordinary courage and endurance of Frenchwomen during World War II.
She returns to tending her small farm, Le Jardin, in the Loire Valley, teaching at the local school and coping with daughter Sophie s adolescent rebellion. Her long-estranged younger sister, Isabelle, who has been kicked out of multiple convent schools, is sent to Le Jardin by Julien, their father in Paris, a drunken, decidedly unpaternal Great War veteran.
Every aspect of the playground has been carefully designed to ensure that everyone can fully engage and have fun. One of the unique features of the Magical Bridge Palo Alto is its emphasis on creating a sense of community. The playground provides opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to come together and connect with each other.
THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS
A YA author’s nicely written adult debut novel blends historical richness and a fine sense of place to tell the story of a woman’s developing love for her husband—and for his Colorado farmland—over the course of six months in 1944.
In wartime Denver, Olivia Dunne becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with a departing American soldier. With the help of a local church, her father arranges her marriage to Ray Singleton, a beet farmer in faraway La Junta. Olivia’s first days on the isolated farm are awkward, and Ray, a shy, reticent man of good intentions, isn’t very adept at small talk. Precluded from contributing anything useful to the running of the farm, whose harvests are cultivated in part by labor from the local internment camp, Olivia takes long solitary walks. During one of them she meets Rose and Lorelei Umahara, Japanese-Americans from California who have been evacuated to confinement in Colorado. Young, enthusiastic, and passionate about butterfly hunting, the sisters introduce Olivia to the thriving, emotionally rich life of the camp. She keeps her friendship with the girls secret; Ray, whose brother was killed at Pearl Harbor, displays no fondness for the Japanese who work his farm. Creel does a delightful job of evoking first the dreariness of the Singleton farm and Olivia’s unnerving loneliness, then the slow ripening of her affection for Ray, a simple but profoundly kind and gentle man. Rose and Lorelei, meanwhile, hint that they have begun dating a pair of American soldiers, and Olivia drives them to meet the men in secret. But the “soldiers” turn out to be German POWs escaping with the help of the sisters, who make Olivia an unwitting accomplice. The author gives her heroine a satisfying emotional depth, moving Olivia through phases of affection and disappointment with assured confidence before closing with a tranquil scene after the baby is born.
A light, precisely observed novel.
Pub Date: July 9, 2001
ISBN: 0-670-91027-9
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2001
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More by Ann Howard Creel
- BOOK REVIEW
Community events, performances, and workshops are regularly held at the playground, fostering a sense of belonging and unity. The Magical Bridge Palo Alto has received widespread recognition and praise for its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. It has become a model for other communities looking to create inclusive play spaces. The success of the Magical Bridge has inspired the creation of similar playgrounds in other cities, spreading the message of inclusion and equality. In conclusion, the Magical Bridge Palo Alto is a shining example of what can be achieved when a community comes together to create a space that is truly inclusive and magical. It provides an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can play, connect, and experience the joy of being part of a community..
Reviews for "The Magic of the Magical Bridge Palo Apto: A Photographic Journey"
1. John - 2 stars - I stayed at the Magical Bridge Palo Apto for a weekend getaway and was quite disappointed. The apartment was advertised as "magical," but it was anything but. The photos were clearly taken years ago, as the apartment looked worn and outdated in person. The place was also not as clean as I had hoped, with dust and dirt in corners and on surfaces. Additionally, the amenities were lacking - the Wi-Fi was slow and unreliable, and the kitchen appliances were old and barely functional. Overall, I would not recommend staying here.
2. Emily - 1 star - My experience at the Magical Bridge Palo Apto was far from magical. First of all, the location was terrible - it was noisy and there was construction going on right outside the building, which made it impossible to get any peaceful sleep. Secondly, the apartment itself was not well-maintained. The bathroom had a leaky faucet that dripped all night long, and the heating system was not efficient, leaving us shivering in the cold. Lastly, the customer service was lacking. When I contacted the host about these issues, they were unresponsive and did not offer any solutions. I would not recommend this place to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Magical Bridge Palo Apto, but unfortunately, my stay was quite disappointing. The apartment was not as spacious as it appeared in the photos, and the layout was awkward. The furniture was old and uncomfortable, and the walls were paper-thin - I could hear every noise from the neighboring apartments. The location was also not ideal, as it was far from shops and restaurants. Overall, the experience did not live up to my expectations, and I would not choose to stay here again.