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Newport Beach opens its first all-accessible playground

April 24, 2025

A 12-foot super tower, a four-person wheelchair-accessible play structure and a weesaw are some of the new amenities found in Newport Beach’s first fully accessible park for children of all abilities.

On Wednesday, April 23, Newport Beach city officials, residents and dozens of children turned out for a ribbon-cutting celebrating the refurbishment and upgrades at San Miguel Park. The 5,500-square-foot playground has more than 20 accessible, ground-level play features, elevated components reachable by transfer platforms and ADA-compliant pathways.

The upgrades to the park are partly due to Alexis Portillo, a 17-year-old Corona Del Mar High student, who in 2019 asked the City Council to consider putting an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park, so her disabled sister, Alanis, could also enjoy the park.

The ask was granted, and it inspired the city to install similar swings at Mariners, Bonita Canyon and Peninsula parks.

Cub Scouts from Harbor Day School, from left, Cade Becker,
Eddie Arkin-Horowitz, and Willem Van Akkeren, all 10-years-old enjoy the new playground during a ribbon cutting ceremony for Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began after a young resident, Alexis Portillo, who has a disabled sister, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Alanis Portillo, center, poses for a photo with her mother Perla, left, and sister, Alexis during a ribbon cutting ceremony to launch Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began after a young resident, Alexis Portillo, who has a disabled sister, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mayor Joe Stapleton and Alexis Portillo cut the ribbon during a ribbon cutting ceremony to launch Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began when Alexis Portillo, who has a disabled sister, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cup scouts from Harbor Day School play on new playground during a ribbon cutting ceremony to launch Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began after a young resident, Alexis Portillo, who has a disabled sister, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Girl Scouts, from left, Dempsey Olsen, Cassin Tippett, and London Best, all 11, check out the new ADA playground during a ribbon cutting ceremony for Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began after a young resident, Alexis Portillo, who has a disabled sister, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Newport Beach Councilmember Erik Weigand, top left, rides the seesaw with Bodhi Somoya, 5, top right, and the councilmembers twin children Annie and Miles,10 during a ribbon cutting ceremony for Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began after a young resident, Alexis Portillo, who has a disabled sister, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Children ride down a slide during a ribbon cutting ceremony for Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began after a young resident, Alexis Portillo, who has a disabled sister, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Alanis Portillo, left, gets assistance from her sister Alexis on the seesaw during a ribbon cutting ceremony for Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began after Alexis Portillo whose sister Alanis is disabled asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mayor Joe Stapleton, right, rides the seesaw opposite Alexis and Alanis Portillo during a ribbon cutting ceremony for Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began after a young resident, Alexis Portillo, who has a disabled sister, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Alanis Portillo, who is disabled, is assisted by her mother Perla through the new ADA compatible playground at a ribbon cutting ceremony to launch Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began Alanis’ sister, Alexis Portillo, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Newport Beach Mayor Joe Stapleton speaks to guests during a ribbon cutting ceremony for Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began after a young resident, Alexis Portillo, who has a disabled sister, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Isabella Guzman, 3, rides down a slide to her mother Cheisi during a ribbon cutting ceremony to launch Newport Beach’s first all accessible playground at San Miguel Park in Newport Beach on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The city’s move to ADA compatible playgrounds began after a young resident, Alexis Portillo, who has a disabled sister, asked if the city could put an ADA swing at Coastal Peak Park in 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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A few years later, when the playground at San Miguel Park was due for refurbishment, the City Council approved upgrades to create the first fully accessible playground. The project cost about $900,000; the city using federal and city funds, officials said.

“This is much more than a new playground, it’s a symbol of how a single voice can spark meaningful change,” Mayor Joe Stapleton said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, acknowledging Portillo’s role in the park’s focus on access for all children. “That thoughtful request led to something even greater: Newport Beach’s first universally accessible playground, right here in San Miguel Park.”

Portillo said she was motivated to advocate for her sister and other children with disabilities because she noticed how difficult it was for the kids to enjoy the typical playground.

“What took the biggest hit on me was seeing her unable to play at the park and swing on the swings like the other children,” she said. “Since the swings were always her favorite, I thought what better way to help her than to go directly to the city and make the change myself. I presented myself and the idea, and pushed through the fear, to surface an issue that has taken a toll on many children with disabilities, including my sister.”

Since the first swing was put in at Coastal Peak Park, Portillo said her sister, now 22, has enjoyed it many times.

Portillo said the fact that her effort has led to other accessible equipment being put in at other parks in the city is a source of pride and a blessing.

“Being able to stand in front of a group of powerful people and present an issue as well as a solution to help others has always encouraged me to never be afraid or stay quiet when something needs to and can be changed for the better,” she said.

“This whole journey has been a reminder that our greatest strength lies in our compassion and our ability to lift others when they need it most,” she added. “It is important to stand up for yourself, but I have always believed that it is far greater to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and that is why this whole project is so important.”

Newport Beach opens its first all-accessible playground Orange County Register

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Newport Beach opens its first all-accessible playground

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