06/14/2026
🌍 Playground Passport: Stop #1 – Shane's Inspiration
Before there were 81 inclusive playgrounds on 5 continents, there was one.
In the autumn of 2000, Shane's Inspiration opened in Griffith Park as the first fully inclusive playground in the Western United States. At a time when many children with disabilities were excluded from playgrounds, this groundbreaking space reimagined what play could be: a place where children of all abilities could play, learn, and grow together.
The playground was inspired by Shane Alexander Williams, the son of founders Catherine Curry-Williams and Scott Williams. Together with Tiffany Harris, Co-Founder and CEO of Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration, they created a place where children of all abilities could play side-by-side — a vision that would grow into a global movement.
Nearly 20 years later, Shane's Inspiration underwent a major renovation, reopening in 2019 with new inclusive equipment, enhanced accessibility features, and sensory-rich play experiences.
As we approach our 30th year of creating inclusion through play, Shane's Inspiration continues to inspire friendships, belonging, and possibility for thousands of children and families each year. It remains one of the most visited playgrounds in Los Angeles and the flagship playground that started it all.
Because play changes lives. 💙
📍 Griffith Park, Los Angeles
Have you visited Shane's Inspiration? Share your favorite memory below!