Last week, a bizarre incident occurred in a quiet suburban neighborhood when a witch crashed into a tree. It was a scene straight out of a fantastical storybook that left residents both bewildered and amused. Eyewitnesses say that the witch, adorned in a traditional black cloak and an elaborate pointed hat, was flying on her broomstick through the night sky. She was reportedly on her way back from a secret gathering of witches when something went terribly wrong. Speculations abound regarding what caused the crash, with some suggesting that she lost control due to a sudden gust of wind or a malfunction in her broomstick. Regardless of the cause, the crash was undoubtedly a shocking sight for those who witnessed it.

Holiday magic comes to Morgan Hill

Kids and families from Morgan Hill and beyond partook in an afternoon of playing, singing, dancing, learning and gifting at the Dec. 16 Magical Holiday festivities at the Magical Bridge Playground.

A central feature of the event, of course, was the presence of Santa and his Magic Ship, which drew a line of children who climbed aboard so they could personally tell St. Nick what they want for Christmas. Members of local scouting troops 799 and 2799—the creators of the Magic Ship—took photos of the special occasion for the kids’ parents, helping raise funds for the youth organizations.

The Magical Holiday event featured a wide variety of games, entertainment and activities throughout the Magical Bridge Playground, located at the city’s Community Park. Artists gave away balloon creations and offered face painting—all provided by the Morgan Hill Youth Action Council. Kids and their parents created holiday ornaments and decorations at crafting stations that provided free supplies.

The city’s sports and recreation department hosted a talent show, singalongs and other interactive performances outside the playground’s giant two-story playhouse. Local dance groups including Corazon Mexicano and Chiqlets Dance Team performed for the crowd at the sprawling playground.

During the event, swing sets, slides and merry-go-rounds were swarmed with children of all ages. The Magical Bridge Playground—which was designed for people of all abilities—also includes a variety of sensory features, as well as an outdoor classroom and picnic tables.

Information booths hosted by various city departments were set up during the Dec. 16 event, and a Cal Fire truck made a visit so firefighters could give away hats and invite kids to see the vehicle up close.

The Magical Holiday event was sponsored by the City of Morgan Hill. More than 200 people attended throughout the festivities, which lasted until the late afternoon.

Young Morgan Hill resident Leo Jaworski is dressed for the holiday as he enjoys balloon accessories he received from an artist at the Dec. 16 Magical Holiday event. Photo: Michael Moore Members of Chiqlets Dance Team pause for a photo just before their Dec. 16 performance at the Magical Holiday event at Magical Bridge Playground in Morgan Hill. Photo: Michael Moore Local youngsters Klara, Olivia and Natalie are pictured having a serious chat with Santa Claus aboard his Magic Ship (of Morgan Hill scouting troops 799 and 2799) at the Dec. 16 Magical Holiday event at Magical Bridge Playground. Photo: Michael Moore Children and their families made Christmas ornaments at a crafting station in a corner of the Magical Bridge Playground, during the Dec. 16 Magical Holiday event. Photo: Michael Moore Matthew Ginion helps his son, Matthew, Jr., gain some momentum on one of the swing sets at the Morgan Hill Magical Bridge Playground, during the Dec. 16 Magical Holiday festivities. Photo: Michael Moore

Nonprofit profile: Magical Bridge Foundation to help MH’s inclusive playground

Olenka Villarreal, left, with her daughter, Ava, who was the inspiration for the Palo Alto community to develop the Magical Bridge inclusive playground in Mitchell Park. Photo courtesy Magical Bridge Foundation

Three years ago, retired teachers Ron and Shirlee Locicero spent an evening at their Morgan Hill home watching a news report on television about the opening of the Tatum’s Garden “inclusive playground” in Salinas. The couple found themselves inspired to create a similar facility that would serve the needs of all families in the South Valley region.

The Locicero’s persistence pushed the Morgan Hill Inclusive Playground forward against many obstacles in the past three years. The ambitious project took what Ron called a “huge step” when in July the Morgan Hill City Council unanimously approved a partnership between the city and the nonprofit Magical Bridge Foundation, based in Palo Alto. The partnership means the city is committed to obtaining $2 million in funding to create a first-class playground on two-acres at Community Park that would enable all families — especially those with physically and mentally challenged children — to come together and enjoy some fun in the sun together.

With support from the city of Morgan Hill, local businesses and nonprofit organizations, and dedicated individuals who want to make the estimated $5.2 million dream a reality, the project is well underway. Earlier this year the organizers received word that the project was eligible for up to $2 million in matching funds from Santa Clara County. Ron said about $85,000 in donations have been gathered so far, and with the city’s agreement with the Magical Bridge Foundation, which was launched Aug. 1, he believes they have a Silicon Valley-based partner to raise funds for the endeavor.

The first Magical Bridge playground was opened in Palo Alto’s Mitchell Park in April 2015. The project started when Palo Alto resident Olenka Villarreal found it a challenge to find a playground suitable for her second daughter, Ava, a child born with disabilities, to play with her older sister. She approached the city of Palo Alto and asked which of the community parks had been designed to accommodate kids with different abilities.

Photo courtesy Magical Bridge Foundation The Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto has fast become a regional destination for families.

“They said to me, ‘Well, we don’t have parks like that. Why don’t you go and design the kind of park you think we should have,’” she said. “And that started a seven-year journey for me and a group of volunteers and people who believed in my vision. And we raised $4 million.”

The playground is completely inclusive with distinct play zones that can accommodate children of all needs. Kids in wheelchairs can get access to a two-story playhouse, a tree-house and the top of a slide mound. Play equipment includes bucket swings, spinning devices, slides, a sway boat, and a merry-go-round designed to be used for children with disabilities.
Magical Bridge’s mission is to provide outdoor play to children of all abilities to serve as the foundation for physical development, as well as social-emotional lessons such as cooperation, sharing, problem solving and kindness, Villarreal said. Without inclusive playgrounds, many Bay Area families lack a park facility to bring their children to play.

“When we were doing the Palo Alto park, no one was really sure what we wanted to do,” she said. “They weren’t sure if it was a wheelchair park or a special needs park.”

As the project progressed and the playground was built, organizers realized everyone in a community benefits from the inclusive facility through the elimination of social stigmas and prejudices as young people of all abilities play together, she said.

The playground’s “Kindness Ambassador” program grew as an outreach from teens doing their community services hours, enabling a spirit of tolerance to grow in the community, Villarreal said.

“They find they don’t have to be afraid of somebody if they have a disability or have cognitive differences,” she said. “When you see them in the community, you are much less likely to be mean or bully somebody because you are seeing someone is different. We’re really creating opportunities for people to discover how they are more similar than they are different.”

The Magical Bridge Playground model was so successful that Villarreal and others decided to create a nonprofit foundation dedicated to helping other cities create similar let’s-all-play-together playgrounds. The Magical Bridge Foundation was launched in January 2016 by Villarreal and two other women, Jill Asher and Kris Loew.

The first community to step up was Redwood City. The foundation signed a contract in September to work with the Redwood City Park and Recreation Department, the Redwood City Park and Arts Foundation and various community groups, family foundations and businesses. The city of Redwood City contributed $1.5 million of Capital Improvement Project funding that had already been allocated toward a planned renovation of an old existing playground project. The project will break ground in October and expects to open in fall 2018.

The success in Palo Alto and Redwood City in raising funds for their playgrounds inspires Ron Locicero that Morgan Hill’s endeavors will be equally as successful. When the Palo Alto playground opened, Ron and Shirlee visited it and were impressed by the high quality of the facility’s design and equipment. They asked the organizers to help them with the Morgan Hill Inclusive Playground project.

“I met with Magical Bridge over a year ago about the possibility of working together. But they weren’t in the business of helping to build parks,” Ron said. “Since then, they’ve formed the foundation and they are in the process of raising funds for people.”

Inclusive playgrounds provide an economic benefit to the communities that build them, Villarreal said. They draw thousands of families from around the region, some who drive two or three hours to spend an afternoon enjoying the playground with their challenged children.

“More than half of the people coming to Palo Alto’s Magical Bridge were in fact from outside Palo Alto, so it was very clear that the Palo Alto park was serving the entire county,” she said. “It’s absolutely a destination park. On any given day I am giving tours of Magical Bridge to people who come from other places in the world. They come to check out the park.”
Palo Alto’s Magical Bridge playground serves about 25,000 visitors a month, she said. A typical city park gets at most 200 visitors a month, she said. Many of the out-of-towners later eat in local restaurants and shop in local stores, bringing money into the city.

But the goal is people, not profit, Villarreal stressed.

“It’s really the beginning of something we call a community gathering place,” she said. “It’s not just a playground but a place where people in the community come together to meet other people in the community. It’s a place where everybody feels welcomed.”

Ron is optimistic that with Magical Bridge’s help, the Morgan Hill Inclusive Playground project will in two or three years become a real place for families from Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Martin, San Jose and elsewhere to visit.

“They’ve already done it twice and we’re going to be No. 3 and I feel we’re further along than the other groups that they’ve worked with,” he said. “It’s going to be a huge deal for them and for us.”

The Magical Bridge Playground In Northern California Is The Stuff Of Childhood Dreams

For over 25 years Lysa Allman-Baldwin has fed her wanderlust for “everything the world has to offer” by passionately writing travel and feature articles for numerous global print and online publications. A Digital Nomad, Lysa is also a professional speaker, workshop facilitator, and author.

No matter your age, it’s hard to resist a playground. There’s just something about the fresh air, fun climbing structures, and opportunities for play that take us back to our childhood. In Northern California, you’ll find a unique themed playground that redefines inclusivity and recreational play.

The Redwood City Magical Bridge Playground design was a collaboration between SSA Landscape Architects of Santa Cruz, the Redwood City Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department and The Magical Bridge Foundation. This unique themed playground encompasses innovative designs and play structures and areas that remove physical and social barriers.

Although we may not realize it, traditional playgrounds exclude many members of society. According to the Foundation, "Magical Bridge finally includes the 1-in-4 of us living with physical and cognitive disabilities, autism, visual and hearing impairments, the medically fragile, and our aging population."

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For example, to the right you can see part of one of the swings in the Swing and Sway Zone. This area is designed to use the magic of swinging to increase concentration, develop and restore balance, and soothe and relax the user.

The "Slide Mounds" at this unique themed playground are wider to accommodate family members sliding down together, and are wheelchair-accessible. Moreover, they promote growth and development, help improve balance and spatial orientation, and help users build strength and good coordination skills.

There is also a Playhouse and Stage, a whimsical area featuring a performance stage designed to promote imaginative play and encourage social collaboration between "performers." Much more than a play area, it is a reflection of how a segment of society works together to bring a project or mission to fruition

All over this area you’ll find kindness affirmations and messages that were chosen by children living in Redwood City. Hand-painted by a local mural artist they are inspiring, teaching and reminding us all how our actions—especially basic kindness—make a difference in our homes,

In addition to the whimsical play, this unique themed playground really does create a bridge across racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, physical, and emotional boundaries. Now that’s magical! In addition to Redwood City, you can find Magical Bridge Playgrounds in Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Morgan Hill, and Santa Clara.

Have you been to the Magical Bridge Playground? If so, we’d love to see your photos and hear about your experience there. You can also find out about the playgrounds on their Facebook page.

If you’re interested in enjoying some fun water play during the warm months, be sure to check out Velocity Island Park.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Regardless of the cause, the crash was undoubtedly a shocking sight for those who witnessed it. The witch's broomstick collided with a towering oak tree, resulting in a spectacular explosion of sparks and smoke. The impact sent the witch tumbling to the ground, her unsteady flight abruptly disrupted.

Curious onlookers rushed to the scene, eager to catch a glimpse of the enchanting visitor who had just fallen from the sky. Dishevelling herself, the witch emerged from the tree branches, coughing and sputtering as she struggled to regain her composure. Surprisingly, she appeared to be unharmed, despite the dramatic nature of the crash. As word spread throughout the neighborhood, a small crowd gathered around the witch, who they had now identified as Penelope, a local witch known for her eccentricities. Despite the initial shock and confusion, residents found themselves unable to contain their laughter. There they stood, faced with a real-life witch who had just crash-landed into their peaceful community. Penelope, far from being offended, took the attention in stride. Known for her quick wit and playful nature, she flourished in the spotlight. She regaled the amused crowd with tales of her misadventures and the challenges of navigating the night sky on a broomstick. The incident quickly morphed into a neighborhood legend, shared over cups of tea and retold with exaggerated details. Penelope, the witch who crashed into a tree, became the subject of countless jokes and stories. Children, in particular, were enthralled by the tale, eagerly recounting it on the school playground. As the days passed, the attention surrounding the witch's crash eventually died down. However, the memory of that fateful night continued to bring smiles to the faces of those who witnessed it. Penelope, the witch who dared to fly through the night sky, crashing into a tree, had left an indelible mark on the sleepy suburban neighborhood, reminding everyone that a touch of magic can be found in the most unexpected places..

Reviews for "When Flying Spells Go Wrong: Witch Crashes into a Tree"

- John Doe - 1/5 - I was extremely disappointed with "Witch crashed into tree". The storyline was weak and lacked depth. The characters were underdeveloped and I found it hard to connect or sympathize with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was choppy and unclear at times, making it difficult to follow along with the plot. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written story.

- Jane Smith - 2/5 - "Witch crashed into tree" was a letdown for me. The premise seemed promising, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was slow, and there were several unnecessary and tedious subplots that detracted from the main story. I also felt that the dialogue was unnatural and forced, making it difficult to engage with the characters. While there were a few moments of intrigue, they were overshadowed by the overall lack of cohesion in the narrative.

- Mike Johnson - 2/5 - I struggled to finish "Witch crashed into tree". The story felt disjointed and confusing, with abrupt jumps between scenes that left me disoriented. The author's writing style was inconsistent, alternating between overly descriptive passages and rushed explanations. The lack of consistency made it difficult to become invested in the story or care about the fate of the characters. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me.

Witch's Unfortunate Encounter: Broomstick Crashes into Tree