Magical Bridge — an amazing local nonprofit that champions inclusive play — opened a new South Bay location in August 2024 at Central Park in Santa Clara.
The playground is located adjacent to/on top of the area formerly occupied by the wood and concrete play structure on the Kiely side of Central Park, which I remember scaling as a kid. Fortunately, some of the concrete blocks and tunnels remain outside the gates of the current Magical Bridge iteration — older kids might enjoy playing on these more than on the beautiful new playground!
When they proposed the Central Park playground renovation and were designing it, I was nervous that they'd remove the beautiful mature trees that provided ample shade to the previous play area. Fortunately, they managed to salvage almost all of the trees, and as a result the new playground has abundant shade over the swing and spin areas during the spring/summer. (When the leaves fall, there's less shade — but of course you need it less then anyway!)
When we visited in late August, half the park had abundant shade which got deeper as the afternoon got later. By about 4:30, I'd say 70% of the park was shaded.
If you've been to one of Magical Bridge's other playgrounds (Palo Alto, Redwood City, Sunnyvale, Morgan Hill, and now Mountain View), the layout and features of this one will look familiar. As with their other venues, this Magical Bridge includes "zones" dedicated to Spinning, Swinging/Swaying, and Sliding (two metal slides, a roller slide, and plenty of grassy turf hill area), as well as a "Tot Zone" (designed for littles, but open to everyone) and an Innovation Zone with a cool, motion-sensor musical instrument.
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| Spinning… |
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| Swinging… |
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| Sliding… |
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| And climbing! |
Like every other Magical Bridge, Santa Clara also has a beautifully-designed two story playhouse with fun features inside, along with a stage and a great amphitheater for shows.
There are also wooden huts for visitors who need a moment away from the hustle and bustle of the playground.
One thing my daughter really enjoyed at this MB playground that we haven't seen at others is the dome climbing structure situated on a hill above the main playground/slide mound.
When the lower level was crowded, this area seemed more relaxed, and the structure is great for climbing. You can also find some hammocks up here (though my kids pointed out that the material isn't particularly comfortable or relaxing) and a few tables with chess/checkers boards.
Everything is designed with accessibility in mind. The entire playground (including the slide hill and both levels of the playhouse) is ramp-accessible. There are several types of swinging, swaying, and spinning apparatuses available so that everyone can enjoy play time, and there is no tanbark or sand that could interfere with wheelchairs or other mobility aids. It's beautifully and thoughtfully designed.
It's also fully-fenced — something that may be the biggest selling point for caregivers of runaway toddlers!
In addition to the physical attributes, this Magical Bridge — like the others we've visited — just has a different feel than a typical playground. It feels warmer, more welcoming, safer, kinder. I find myself smiling as I look around at all the happy kids enjoying their time outdoors.
In terms of negatives, it's hard to find any, but it's my job to look, so...
↘️ When the sun is directly overhead, the slide hill is fully-exposed, and the slides are metal — you do the math.
↘️ It can feel a bit more congested on the lower level of the playground than at some of the other Magical Bridge playgrounds — partly because there are so many great features, partly because there are plenty of trees (versus, for example, Magical Bridge Morgan Hill, Sunnyvale, or Mountain View, where there aren't any trees in the main playground area), and partly because I think it’s just smaller.
↘️ The slide hill here isn't as... well, slide-y as the Morgan Hill playground. There, with a piece of cardboard, you can careen down the turf hills. We brought huge boxes on our first visit to this MB and my kids were both disappointed to find that the turf here doesn't feel the same. If you're looking for hill surfing, head to Morgan Hill.
As with all Magical Bridge playgrounds, this one genuinely is built for everyone to enjoy. However, as a mom who has been to a LOT of playgrounds, I would recommend this one for kids who are at least preschool age, and ideally even a bit older. There are lots of apparatuses here that swing and spin, and grade school-aged kids get going pretty fast on them — I worry about a toddler running up to a heavy plastic swing or a spinning disk and getting hurt because the older kids were unaware or couldn't stop in time. The fact that the playground is very popular and tends to be congested makes this risk even greater. The "Tot Zone" at MB is sweet but small, and the bigger features will be attractive to toddlers. There is a separate toddler playground at Central Park across the bridge (the play area that I loved for Toddler X when he was 2 or 3), and though it's old and unfenced, you may feel safer with a tiny one outside the busyness of MB.
In terms of an upper age range, I don't really think there is one, though I will say that my now 13 year-old enjoys the more spacious Morgan Hill Magical Bridge more than this one — there's just more room to spread out. But if you have a preteen or young teen and are comfortable with them being outside the fenced-in playground area, there is a large lawn just beyond the playground and the remnants of the old concrete playground, which are fun to explore.
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| Lots of lawn to play on just outside the playground gates! |
A few practical notes:
➡️ Parking is available in two lots on Kiely.
➡️ Bathrooms are just outside the fenced-in playground area.
➡️ There are tables, benches, and ledges for sitting inside the playground (and many people just relax on the turf in the shady swing area), but food and drink are prohibited (which is why this playground stays so clean). There are picnic tables just outside the gate for snacks and lunch.
➡️ There is a water fountain with a bottle filling station inside the fenced area.
➡️ The playground is lighted and is open until 9:30 p.m.!! What a gift! I haven't been in the evening yet, but come summer, we'll be sure to check it out. Obviously be aware of safety concerns — I wouldn't recommend visiting alone at night.
➡️ The playground is closed on Wednesdays until noon for maintenance.
➡️ Across the bridge is the rest of Central Park, with a small toddler playground, a lake that features lots of geese (babies in spring!), and the wonderful Central Park Library.
Follow Magical Bridge on Facebook or Instagram to see the wonderful programming — concerts, story times, performances, etc. — they have at all their area parks, including Santa Clara.
This is another great success by the wonderful people at Magical Bridge. Thanks to all the donors and the City of Santa Clara for helping to make this dream a reality.
Please take care of this beautiful park when you visit and help foster the atmosphere of kindness and inclusivity that is Magical Bridge's trademark.
Enjoy your visit!
(Most recent visit: March 2025)