6 School Playground Projects That Brought Communities Together

Play isn't only near giving students a break from grade. Every bit Albert Einstein once said, "Play is the highest form of research." In addition to helping students get needed exercise, playgrounds encourage social, cognitive and emotional development and should be seen as a vital part of their learning experience. Here are vi school playground projects that brought communities together and improved the lives of their students.

Owen's Playground: The Offset All-Attainable Public School Playground in DuPage County

It all started with Peg Chaidez'southward dream for her son and other kids with disabilities. When her son Owen's wheelchair got stuck in playground wood chips, Peg decided to create a playground for kids of all abilities. She launched a crowdfunding effort and created the Dream Build Play Experience, a nonprofit arrangement that builds inclusive, attainable playgrounds effectually the Chicago area. How awesome is that?

Owen's Playground at Hillcrest School, named after her son Owen, includes double broad ramps, recycled rubber instead of forest chips, a musical surface area with drums and piano, and even rock climbing walls.

Check out Owen Chaidez enjoying the playground at recess.

Toomer Elementary Schoolhouse, Atlanta

And the amazing instructor award goes to…. Emily Max, a teacher at Toomer Elementary, wanted to build an inclusive playground and improve the accessibility for students with disabilities. She applied to a contest being held by Farmer's Insurance and scored an $100,000 grant for her school.

And then, what does this new playground include? It includes a soft, rubber surface where wheelchairs can curl freely. Features are at lower heights and every activity can stimulate all five senses. What a wonderful thought to place activities at varying levels!

Woodstock Simple Schoolhouse, VT

Woodstock Uncomplicated School replaced its former blacktop and cracked pavement with a new and innovative playground. Now children can enjoy blossom and vegetable gardens and green play spaces. In one case again, the project happened considering a customs came together with private donations and grants. This won them the Vermont Public Places Honor, which is given to well-designed projects that do good the public.

Gompers Elementary in Madison, WI

The original Gompers Elementary School playground had some large safe concerns. The equipment was decades old and at that place were drainage issues, causing large puddles and ice in the winter. And so Gompers' determined PTO involved their customs and developed a savvy business programme they chosen "Growing Together", which included gathering volunteers, working with the school district, and building in phases. They even involved students in the design process.

The new elementary school playground includes a school and customs garden. Volunteers built inclusive play structures for students of all abilities to use and savor.

Kensington Route Simple School in Glenn Falls, NY

Again, a community works together toward a common goal. In this case, the PTA oversaw the creation of an inclusive, natural playground that includes an amphitheater with rocks doubling every bit seats and a stone climbing wall. Wow! They as well wanted to make sure the playground is wheelchair accessible. Donors from inside and outside Glenn Falls contributed to the projection, volunteering their time and expertise.

Westgate Elementary in Lakewood, CO

Parents created this playground on their ain. Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) offers the School Thou Initiative (SYI), which funds projects for the school playground or yard, as long as they meet two requirements: 1. Students must help design the projects. 2. The projects must exist open to the public later school to conform families who practise not have access to quality parks.

According to a blog run by the City of Lakewood, a parent named Wendy Strom, whose son attends Westgate, reached out to her local community, including neighbors and small businesses, for assistance in rebuilding Westgate's outdated playground. The students of Westlake, their parents, GOCO, and the City of Lakewood came together to blueprint a mod playground that educates and entertains. Most chiefly, this new playground brought an entire customs together. This has helped them to focus on other outdated playgrounds in the Jeffco schoolhouse district.

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Source: https://www.weareteachers.com/school-playground-projects/

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