Concord Boy Who Inspired Unique East Bay Playground To Be Honored Following His Death

A celebration of life will held May 28 in honor of an 11-year-old disabled boy whose simple wish to enjoy a playground like other kids inspired Matteo's Dream Playground in Concord—the first playgrounds for kids of "all abilities" in the Bay Area.

Matteo Henderson died on March 16, according to an obituary in the Contra Costa Times. The obituary doesn't list cause of death, but a 2007 Diablo magazine article said that Matteo, then 8, was blind and had to get around in a wheelchair.

The inspiration for Matteo's Dream Playground, at Concord's Hillcrest Park, struck the boy's parents, Liz Lamach and Rene Henderson, when they took their then 1-year-old son to Los Angeles. There, they visited Shane’s Inspiration in Griffith Park, the first universally accessible playground in the western United States, according to Diablo magazine.

“It’s a beautiful playground with wheelchair-accessible ramps and a number of features that allow disabled children to play alongside other children,” Lamach told Diablo.

Lamach, a member of Concord's Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission, envisioned a play structure with wide ramps and wheelchair-friendly rubber ground instead of sand and bark.

The city embraced her idea and donated Hillcrest Park on Olivera Road and $232,000 in park funds, Diablo reported. Lamach also brought together more than 3,300 volunteers, including those from various Lions Club chapters in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, to raise more than $750,000 and help with construction.

"Matteo’s Dream serves as a blueprint for how a park can be constructed for all children," Diablo wrote. "The park also features giant musical instruments and stainless steel slides that don’t generate static electricity, which can damage deaf children’s cochlear implants."

For her efforts in building the park, Lamach received a 2007 Diablo Threads of Hope of Award.

She described Matteo as "the most amazing son a mother could hope for. He was an inspiration for the community and a source of light, love and happiness to his family."

Matteo loved his family, music, the San Francisco Giants and going to school, his obituary said. "He had a great sense of humor, an unforgettable smile, a contagious laugh and a real joy for life. He will remain in our hearts forever."

The gathering to celebrate his life will take place May 28 at Matteo's Dream Playground, Hillcrest Community Park, 2050 Olivera Road, from 3 to 5 p.m. A candelight vigil will take place at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, people are asked to donate to the Lion's Center for the Visually Impaired, 175 Alvarado Ave., Pittsburg, CA 94565, in memory of Matteo Henderson.