Our Playce

Long Beach, CA · Coming Late Summer 2026 · Quarterly Community Space

A quarterly 3-hour outdoor family community space where neurodivergent children play freely alongside peers, and their parents find community.

Outdoor park Ages 2–12 All abilities welcome Future 501(c)(3)

The origin story

Born from a birthday party.

"At my twins' birthday party, surrounded by face painting, a bounce house, and bubbles, parents of fellow special education classmates pulled me aside with gratitude. Not because it was extraordinary. Because it was ordinary. Their kids got to just be kids. That moment became Our Playce"

— Founder · Mom of twins Nara & DJ · Long Beach, CA

Our Playce is built on three commitments. Every event, Every Quarter, Without exception.

Play for Every Child

Sensory-aware zones designed for neurodivergent kids first — open to all children. Stimming, wandering, parallel play all welcome here. No neurotypical standard applied.

Our Playce Too

A dedicated parent space at every event. Coffee, community, and resources — alongside people who already understand. No explaining required.

Access for All Families

Partnering with the City of Long Beach and LBUSD to keep costs near zero. Scholarship spots at every event. Community-funded, community-first.

Every event

Five zones. Always present.

Each zone is designed for the full range of needs — from high-energy movers to quiet observers. Every child finds their place.

Sensory Play

Tactile exploration — rotates with the monthly theme

Sand & water tables Texture boards Kinetic sand & foam

Movement

Big body outdoor play in open park space

Obstacle courses Parachute play Open run space

Creative Arts

Process-focused & tied to the quarterly theme

Painting & drawing Building & blocks Music & instruments

Calm Corner

Always open, never time-limited

Cozy tents & blankets Weighted items & fidgets Soft lighting & quiet

Nature Zone

The park is the classroom

Bug & leaf hunts Planting activity Cloud watching

Day flow

Three hours. No rush.

Welcome & Settle

Soft open. Arrive at your own pace. Sensory bag at check-in.

All Zones Open

Free-flow. Kids lead. No schedule pressure, no herding.

Food Vendors Open

2–3 rotating trucks. Families eat and mix naturally.

Our Playce Too

Parent programming (speaker, workshop, and/or resource fair.)

Soft Close

No rush. Calm corner stays open. Leave when ready.

For parents & caregivers

Our Playce Too.

Because parents deserve a space as much as their kids do. Our Playce Too is a dedicated caregiver space at every single event — no extra registration, no separate ticket. Just come.

Every event

Open Community

Chairs, coffee, shade. No agenda. No explaining, no defending, no performing. A space to breathe beside people who already get it.

Rotating monthly

Guest Speaker

Therapists, educators, advocates, and parent voices. IEPs, sensory strategies, self-care, navigating school systems.

Rotating monthly

Resource Fair

Vetted local therapists, nonprofits, and school reps. Browse at your own pace. Community only, zero hard selling, every org reviewed before participating.

Interactive learning boards

Learning woven into play.

Kid-friendly, visual, interactive boards placed throughout the space help teach all attendees — children and adults — about neurodivergence. Not clinical. Not heavy. Conversation-starting.

Autism Spectrum

ASD

How autistic people experience the world: sensory input, communication, and the spectrum itself.

Sensory differences Special interests Communication styles

ADHD

Attention & focus

What ADHD actually is: a different relationship with attention, energy, and executive function.

Hyperfocus Executive function Impulsivity

Sensory Processing

SPD

How some brains process sensory input differently "sound, touch, light" and what that feels like from the inside.

Over-sensitivity Sensory seeking

Down Syndrome

Trisomy 21

What Down syndrome is and what people with Down syndrome want others to know about them.

Development Abilities & strengths

Our commitment

Sensory
Promise

Visual schedules at every zone
Sound kept at or below conversational
No loudspeaker announcements
Calm corner always staffed
Families share needs at registration
Scent-free volunteer policy

Get in touch

Let's talk.

Whether you're a family, a potential sponsor, a city partner, or a volunteer. We want to hear from you.

thisisourplayce.com

Our home on the web. Follow along as we build toward our launch.

Long Beach, CA

Events held in Long Beach public parks. Location announced with each event.

Sponsor & Partner Inquiries

We're actively seeking city partnerships, school district collaborations, and foundation funding. Tell us about your organization.

Volunteer

We're building our volunteer corps now. If you have experience with children, neurodivergence, or event coordination, we'd love to meet you.