Gates Canyon Park / Brandon's Village - Calabasas

The 7 acre Gates Canyon Park at 25801 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Calabasas includes picnic areas with barbeques, fitness course, children's play area, basketball court, tennis courts and plenty of open grass area.  The park is north of the 101 freeway and east of Las Virgenes.

Brandon’s Village at Gates Canyon Park originally opened in October 2006 as a universally accessible playground. It was completely renovated in 2024 with a million dollar upgrade and the theme “Above the Tree Line.” This 15,000 sq ft all-inclusive playground has play structures for ages 2-5 and 5-12. There is also a new sand area and trike zone for creative play.

Visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/government/community-services-parks-recreation/parks-trails-and-facilities for more information.

Photo of a portion of the original Brandon’s Village play structure that was remodeled in 2024.

We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym in Agoura Hills

We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym at 30315 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills opened to the public in November 2013. Open from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday for open play. Saturdays and Sundays - call in advance for open times.

The gym provides children from infant to age 13 with a fun and motivational environment to help them with strength, movement, vestibular development, sensory processing, communication and social interactions.

Activities at the gym include: zip line, full sized trampoline, rope wall, slide, monkey bars, swings, tunnels, sensory-based toys, motor play toys and equipment, arts and crafts area and more.

Open play is $23 for one child, $20 for additional siblings (as of January 2024).

Learn more at werockthespectrumagourahills.com or call 818.991.KIDS (5437). Also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WRTSAgouraHills.

Breaking thru Barriers Program for Teens, Young Adults with ASD

Breaking thru Barriers is a mentor program for teens and adults to learn to become social models for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Breaking thru Barriers is a structured social environment for teens and young adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to develop friendships and social networks. Our goal is to provide structured social opportunities with peer mediated groups. Teens from local high schools and colleges interested in being peer mentors are able to develop relationships with local persons with ASD. It is our hope that these friendships will support young adults in the community and open additional social opportunities with new friends.

Visit www.breakingthrubarriers.org to learn more. Located in Newbury Park.

Studio 17 Art Classes in Newbury Park

Located in Newbury Park, Studio 17 provides art instruction to children and adults with special needs. Local artist Mary Abraham opened the studio and is an educator, artist and parent of a child with autism; she brings a special understanding of how to teach the arts to students with special needs.

For more information, visit studio17atruby.weebly.com.

Brandon's Buddies Free Kids Club in Calabasas

Brandon's Buddies is a free kids club that meets every month at Brandon's Village at Gates Canyon Park located at 25801 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Calabasas. This playground is the first fully-accessible playground in the region. The day may include integrated play, face painting, arts and crafts, entertainment and treats.  Feel free to bring a sack lunch.

All children with and without disabilities and their families who want to spend a great day playing in the sunshine and making friends are invited to participate!

Brandon's Buddies gives children with disabilities the opportunity to play with their typically-able peers, while giving their parents a chance to share experiences and advice with other parents/caregivers.  It gives children without disabilities the chance to get to know their peers and gain greater awareness and compassion.

For more information, visit The K.E.N. Project website at www.kenproject.com or call 818.222.8118.  Or visit the KEN Project calendar at www.kenproject.com/calendar. 

Note from Conejo Joe: The group meets USUALLY (some exceptions noted) the first Saturday of each month from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. But make sure to check in advance.  Or just show up.

Upcoming dates: TBA

Rotary Dreamcatcher Playground at Old Meadows Park in Thousand Oaks

Old Meadows Park at 1600 Marview Drive, Thousand Oaks houses the Therapeutic Recreation Unit of the Conejo Recreation and Park District, which provides recreation programs for Conejo Valley residents with disabilities.

The park includes a one-of-a-kind "SensAbility Playground," an interactive play area stimulating senses and abilities. The playground contains mat surfacing, rolling turf hills, large shaded areas, tree log swings, seagull swings, harmony chimes, hammocks, pod seats, picnic tables and many other cool features.

The area also features a butterfly garden, physical development apparatus with features that encourage climbing, crawling, jumping and so on, sensory processing and calming features and features that encourage socialization.

There are active and passive play areas allowing children to engage in stimulating activities, and areas to which they can retreat and calm themselves after anxiety-producing experiences while remaining close by to other children, parents or caregivers.

The playground features many unique play pieces including "Playville" miniature village, elevated sand table, "Sand Works", one back hoe digger, Tenor Marimba (a xylophone-like musical piece), Talking Bob, talking horns, a sign language panel and several sensory panels. 

Tomol Interpretative Play Area at Carpinteria State Beach

Located at 390 Linden Avenue, Carpinteria, at the northern corner of Carpinteria State Beach Park, the Tomol Interpretive Play Area opened in 2011 through the cooperative efforts of California State Parks, the Morning Rotary Club of Carpinteria, and the City of Carpinteria.

The play area, universally accessible by all visitors, features a Chumash Indian village with slides, cave, sandstone boulders, a "tomol" plank boat, rainbow bridge and other play structures. Definitely something to stop by and check out with your little ones when you are in the area.

The interpretive play area was awarded the Universal Access Award by California State Parks for “outstanding achievement in increasing universal access” by all visitors regardless of physical limitations.