shane's inspiration was founded in 1998, by television producer scott a. williams and his wife catherine curry-williams, and their friend tiffany harris, in memory of scott and catherine's son shane, who died in infancy from the effects of spinal muscular atrophy. they were inspired in part by the work of amy jaffe barzach, founder of boundless playgrounds a few years earlier. the flagship shane's inspiration playground in griffith park opened in the autumn of 2000.