Sharks Foundation, SAP Fund Magical Bridge Playground Innovation Zone

The City of Redwood City and Magical Bridge Foundation reached a major milestone in the creation of a Magical Bridge Playground in Redwood City this week. The Sharks Foundation and SAP agreed to sponsor the Innovation Zone of the Magical Bridge Playground, a world-renowned concept developed first in Palo Alto and soon to debut in Redwood City.
"We are excited that the Magical Bridge Foundation chose Redwood City as their next park location and look forward to a groundbreaking later this year," said John Seybert, City of Redwood City mayor. "On behalf of the City Council, I want to thank the Sharks Foundation and SAP for their investment in our community and the lasting legacy the sponsorship of the Innovation Zone will offer youth and adults of all ages as they enjoy the Magical Bridge Playground in Redwood City."
The City Council approved a partnership with the Magical Bridge Foundation to build an innovative and inclusive playground to open at Red Morton Park in early 2018. A groundbreaking is being planned for later this year.

"The Sharks Foundation is thrilled to partner with SAP to sponsor the Innovation Zone within the Magical Bridge Playground in Redwood City," said Heather Hooper, Sharks Foundation manager. "We look forward to partnering with the Magical Bridge Foundation and the City of Redwood City and can't see a better way of being able to give back to the local community than through this unique gift of play and fun that the Innovation Zone at Magical Bridge Playground in Redwood City will offer."
Designed to be socially inclusive for children and adults of varying physical and cognitive abilities, Magical Bridge Redwood City aims to go beyond typical playground designs, which often inadvertently overlook the growing autistic population, cognitively challenged, visually and hearing impaired, physically limited and the aging population.
"SAP's support of the Magical Bridge Foundation was a natural and perfect fit. SAP is committed to celebrating diversity on our campuses and beyond with programs like Autism at Work, an initiative close to my heart, and many others," said Ferose VR, SAP senior vice president and head of globalization services. "We are looking forward to watching children thrive at the Magical Bridge Playground in Redwood City and couldn't be more proud to sponsor the Innovation Zone with the Sharks Foundation."
The City plans to contribute $1.5 million of Capital Improvement Program funding it had already allocated towards the renovation of the existing playground project, while the Foundation is wrapping up the $1.8 million in fundraising needed to secure the park.
"The Redwood City community has completely embraced the Magical Bridge Playground and the funding commitment by SAP and the Sharks Foundation is a major milestone needed to make the park a reality," said Jill Asher, Magical Bridge Foundation co-founder. "We are thrilled with the outpouring of support so far for the new playground and look forward to celebrating the opening in 2018 with the local community and broader region."
For more details on ways you can support this innovative playground becoming a reality, visit a recent blog post here. To learn more about the project visit
www.redwoodcity.org/magicalbridge
or if you are interested in personal or corporate giving, visit
http://www.magicalbridge.org/redwoodcity
or contact [email protected].