UC Irvine School of Education and Associate Professor Andres Bustamante Transform Santa Ana Parks into Interactive Learning Spaces
By Rachel Rees Sampson
February 10, 2025
February 10, 2025
School of Education Dean Frances Contreras(left) and Associate Professor Andres Bustamante
(center, back row) at the ribbon cutting ceremony
On February 6, 2025, the UC Irvine School of Education, led by Associate Professor Andres Bustamante, in partnership with the City of Santa Ana, Santa Ana Parks & Recreation, and the Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative (SAELI), unveiled three new playful learning installations at Madison Park and Angels Park.
These installations are part of an effort to bring learning beyond the classroom by embedding science, math, and literacy concepts into everyday public spaces. Designed to engage children and families in meaningful educational experiences, these interactive spaces transform parks into community learning hubs.
The event, emceed by Dr. Bustamante, featured remarks from Dean Frances Contreras, Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua, Councilmembers David Penaloza and Jessie Lopez, SAELI Director Wendy Gomez, First 5 OC President Kimberly Goll, and PRCSA Executive Director Hawk Scott. Families and children from the local community joined the celebration, enjoying a mariachi band, DJ, and refreshments while exploring Parkopolis at Madison Park, a life-size board game that promotes STEM language use, caregiver-child interactions and physical activity.
These installations are part of an effort to bring learning beyond the classroom by embedding science, math, and literacy concepts into everyday public spaces. Designed to engage children and families in meaningful educational experiences, these interactive spaces transform parks into community learning hubs.
The event, emceed by Dr. Bustamante, featured remarks from Dean Frances Contreras, Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua, Councilmembers David Penaloza and Jessie Lopez, SAELI Director Wendy Gomez, First 5 OC President Kimberly Goll, and PRCSA Executive Director Hawk Scott. Families and children from the local community joined the celebration, enjoying a mariachi band, DJ, and refreshments while exploring Parkopolis at Madison Park, a life-size board game that promotes STEM language use, caregiver-child interactions and physical activity.
Putting one of the new installations to use
Professor Bustamante and his team at UCI’s STEM Learning Lab are dedicated to designing educational spaces that make learning joyful, engaging, and accessible for all. To learn more about the research and inspiration behind this project, listen to Dr. Bustamante’s interview on The UCI Podcast:
🎧 Bringing the Classroom Into the Community
These installations highlight the UCI School of Education’s commitment to community-centered learning, reinforcing the connection between parks, recreation, and education to create engaging educational opportunities for young learners in Santa Ana and beyond.
🎧 Bringing the Classroom Into the Community
These installations highlight the UCI School of Education’s commitment to community-centered learning, reinforcing the connection between parks, recreation, and education to create engaging educational opportunities for young learners in Santa Ana and beyond.
