Glorya Jean Tate Park

The City of Marina, a town located on the Central Coast of California, is a world-class destination known for its beautiful beaches and stretches of dunes—a serene getaway for outdoor enthusiasts to take in the views. When it came to making improvements to Glorya Jean Tate Park, the City wanted to create a destination outdoor space for all ages to enjoy a variety of activities, and they needed its playground to make a statement and be welcoming to all visitors.

By working with KOMPAN, the inclusive playground was created with top-to-bottom ocean themed customizations, specific to the sea life seen off the Central Coast. With dedicated play areas for toddlers, thrilling play for older children, and an outdoor fitness zone for adults, the final solution ensures everyone has a safe, engaging place to move and discover the ocean life just beyond the shore.

This under-the-sea playground creates a layered play experience for children of all ages and abilities. At the center is the Giant play tower, reached by an ADA-accessible ramp brought to life with playful ocean scenes designed by KOMPAN Design Studios. As children move through the structure, they can spot sea turtles, sharks, fish, and other sea life woven into the ramp panels, turning the journey upward into part of the adventure. The Giant is connected by two Sky Cabins and rope bridges, and finished with a slide and climbing net that add height, movement, and challenge.

Younger children have their own dedicated place to join the fun with the Robinia Whale play structure, designed for ages 2–5. This smaller-scale play piece brings the same “under the sea” theme to life in an age-appropriate way, with a slide, climbing wall, and a quiet zone inside the whale’s mouth for a calm retreat. It gives little ones a playful, welcoming space that feels connected to the larger playground while still meeting their developmental needs.

Across the site, dolphin springers, a swing set with ADA-accessible seating, a Universal Carousel, zipline, and spinner bowls add variety, motion, and social play for a broad range of users. Just beyond the playground, the exercise zone gives caregivers and older visitors a CommonGround space to stay active, too. With cardio and cross-training equipment located within view of the play areas, adults can enjoy fresh air and movement while keeping a watchful eye on the children.