Parents Frustrated After Public Overruns Park Built For Special-Needs Kids

TEMECULA (CBSLA.com) — A new park with equipment designed to allow special-needs children to play safely is the focus of controversy after parents say non-special-needs children have overrun the space.

Kassidee Rose's son, Konnor, is blind, and she was excited when Margarita Park was being built, saying that she looking forward to her son being able to play there.

"We are so thankful that the city of Temecula took the time and the money and the resources to build this for our community," Rose said.

Margarita Park opened earlier in 2015 as an inclusive park, to allow children with all kinds of special needs to play safely and interact with one another, as well as with other kids who do not have special needs.

However, the inclusive plan does not appear to be working as planned, according to Kassidee.

"There are so many kids without special needs that are not supervised, and (kids) that are making it difficult for the children who the park was built for to have fun and play safely," Rose said.

Monday was the first time Konnor returned to the park since another child there stole his cane.

"He's yelling and he, basically, felt stranded and alone," Kassidee recalled.

Similar stories of frustration have been shared on social media by other parents of special-needs children. Rose says that the issue comes down to educating the public, but other parents say more needs to be done.

Temecula's city manager says plans are in place to put up more signage and pass out pamphlets to spread the word about the park.