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Nicky’s Dreamland Overcoming One Last Obstacle in Pursuit of Inclusion – Community Sponsorships
- Stevie Quilo
- 10 hours ago
- 6 min read
Del Rio’s first all-inclusive playground is on the precipice of completion, but in these final stages, one more push of community support is needed to bring it to life. Local mom Sabrina Peña has championed this project for over a decade, in honor of her late son Nicholas "Nicky" Peña. The initiative, “It's A Beautiful Day – Nicky’s Dreamland,” aims to create a space where children of all abilities can play and connect without barriers, a feature never before accessible to Del Rio residents.
Multiple sources of grant funding have already been acquired for the project, the land procured, and design complete. But at this critical stage of development, Nicky’s Dreamland is facing one last obstacle they must overcome in pursuit of inclusion. Nearly half-a-million dollars are still needed in fundraising. All funds must be secured before construction can commence. Many letters of support and small donations have already been received from the public, but so far, it's just a drop in the bucket.
Inspiration behind Nicky’s Dreamland: “Nicky Peña went home to God on September 9, 2010, following a courageous 18-month battle against cancer. His body could not contain his love for life and spirit. He never missed an opportunity to laugh and play or to share a heartfelt smile and warm hug with those he encountered. His strength and perseverance to overcome incredible physical challenges and pain shines as a beacon of hope and encouragement for so many people.” But throughout his illness, Nicky was not able to access existing playgrounds, due to his special needs.
Planning & Zoning Director Janice Pokrant, alongside her team, presented the project’s history, impact, and needs to community members at City Hall on Thursday May 5, 2025. The $1.5M project budget requires multiple sources of funding. Originally, the plan was for grant funding to cover half of the project costs, and for the City of Del Rio to pay the other half. In 2023, the City Council approved grant applications and committed to contributing a 50% match.
Nicky’s Dreamland was budgeted for 2025, but in a turn of events, the project is facing delays. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) awarded Nicky’s Dreamland a significant grant of $750,000. This funding requires a 50% local matching contribution of $750,000 from the City of Del Rio. On January 24, 2025, TPWD sent the City of Del Rio the grant award agreement. The city has already asked for a 2-year extension in accepting the grant funds, because they cannot yet guarantee their committed match.
Michael Garcia, Assistant to the City Manager / Grant Writer, explained, “based on the city’s current financial situation we are seeking outside partners from the community to form a partnership with them.” City Manager Shawna Burkhart emphasized, “it wasn’t anyone’s intent to apply for something without having funds to match it… Certainty, after reconciliation of our audits, we are going to be hard-pressed to meet that demand this year.”
The city has successfully appropriated about half of their $750,000 committed funding but are reaching out to the community to help “close the gap” for the remainder. Operations & Compliance Manager Scot Carcasi, said, “this is super important, we really don’t want to lose the momentum, it's not often you get a 750k grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife.” Community backing is needed to keep Nicky’s Dreamland moving forward. If Del Rio cannot meet the match within the next few years, the TPWD grant will have to be forfeited, putting the entire Inclusive Playground project at risk.
Sabrina Peña shared a comment to Connect Del Rio: "This project has experienced its share of delays, but thanks to the city’s support, a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the potential for further community involvement, we are closer than ever before. The prospect of children playing together in a space designed for everyone is a source of hope."
The path to realizing Nicky's Dreamland has involved dedication and perseverance. Nearly a decade ago, Peña partnered with Shane’s Inspiration for a design-build grant, to launch the project. Following initial design work, the project has navigated through recurring delays, such as COVID, but the recent grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department marks a significant step forward. The next key phase involves securing the necessary local matching funds to fully capitalize on this opportunity.
Pokrant stated, “Shane’s Inspiration is a nationally known company that does design and build of these all-inclusive playgrounds, and they came in and did a charette… they designed this play structure that was for our citizens and what the community needs were.” The charette involved 49 adults and 18 children from Del Rio, who worked together to identify specific local needs. Pokrant said the dream is “to be able to build something in this community that the youth, adults, anybody can go and be able to have the ability to play together and watch their kids.”
Nicky's Dreamland directly supports the City of Del Rio Parks and Recreation Master Plan, specifically aligning with their #1 Goal: Quality of Life. To provide diverse and accessible recreational opportunities that enhance the overall well-being and quality of life for all residents. The creation of an all-inclusive playground directly addresses this objective by fostering social inclusion, promoting physical activity for individuals of all abilities, and creating a welcoming environment for families and the entire community.
The chosen location within William S. Nixon Sports Park (previously known as the Field of Our Dreams), is an ideal setting. Carcasi said: “Location is critical, because it is in the section of town that we are trying to expand and make a one-stop destination. We have baseball, we have soccer fields, and close by we have the Nixon softball field… so the idea of an all-inclusive park being at this location is critical because the idea is to have all the kids playing together.” Rather than building the inclusive playground in an isolated location, integrating it into an existing sports park increases opportunities for connection.
The Community Health Improvement Coalition (CHIC), a local 501(c)(3) organization, is facilitating opportunities for community involvement through the "Fund a Zone" initiative. This allows individuals and organizations to contribute to the realization of specific areas within the playground. Contributions made through this initiative will go 100% directly to support the creation of Nicky's Dreamland. Organizations can choose one piece of equipment to sponsor or submit a general donation.
The City of Del Rio is also doing their part. They are reaching out to local entities, nonprofits, and corporations for financial support. City officials ask, when planning your annual budget, “if you want to include this in your project list, that would be very much appreciated.” The project benefits the entire region, including the school district, as it provides a platform for inclusive educational programs, and more.
Pena said: “Our mission is to create environments and programs that remove barriers and unite people of all abilities through inclusion and education. This unique, state-of-the-art play space is designed to meet critical child development milestones by offering a wide variety of activities that support a child’s physical, cognitive, social, and sensory needs.”
Nicky's Dreamland is planned to include a variety of thoughtfully designed, accessible zones, each offering unique play experiences tailored to diverse needs and abilities. Peña explained why she continues to push for the playground. She said, “Nicky’s Dreamland has been a labor of love. After our youngest son, Nicky passed away, we vowed to create a space for children of all abilities. The playground is more than just equipment—it’s about creating a space where every child, regardless of ability, feels seen and included.”
The Musical & Sensory Zone will be a vibrant area designed to engage children's auditory and tactile senses. These elements provide opportunities for creative expression, exploration, and sensory integration. Nicky's Treehouse will be an accessible structure offering elevated play experiences. Designed with ramps and wide platforms, it will allow children of all mobility levels to climb, explore, and enjoy a different perspective of the playground.
The Spin, Sway & Swing Zone will provide a range of motion-based activities. This zone will include accessible swings with supportive seating, as well as gentle spinning features that can be enjoyed by children with varying physical abilities. The Bankshot Basketball court is an innovative and fully inclusive adaptation of basketball. The non-running format allows players of all abilities to participate equally, including those using wheelchairs or walkers.
Peña said, “our goal is to complete fundraising for Del Rio’s first-fully inclusive, barrier-free playground by Nicky’s Birthday (March 6th)!” The original timeline target has already passed, but the dream is still alive. Those interested in learning more about the project and how to contribute to specific zones or the overall matching fund can find further details through the CHIC – It's A Beautiful Day. The realization of Nicky's Dreamland is now within reach, and the support of the Del Rio community will be vital in securing the necessary matching funds.
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