Inclusivity a priority in new playground

When looking at options for a new playground at the Creston Elementary School, Elementary Principal Casey Tanner said inclusivity was a top priority.

“The number one inclusive thing about this whole playground is the surfacing for it,” he explained to the Creston School Board Monday. “Similar to the ECC where it’s going to have that soft, rubber surface to it. It’s accessible by any student. That’s why it’s kind of butted up to the cement too, so anyone that’s in a wheelchair has access to go out to the middle of it and kind of adventure around.”

The school board approved setting a quotation date of March 14 for the project.

The project began with sending surveys to fourth and fifth grade students as well as staff to see what they liked best and what they wanted to see in the new playground.

“We prioritized different elements of the playground like having an opportunity for a lot of climbing, having a safe opportunity to kind of challenge yourself and explore,” Tanner said. “One thing we liked a lot was the imagination aspect of sending them out there to create their own type of play.”

The equipment is divided into two age ranges, 0-5 and 6-12. Tanner said that presented a challenge when comparing the oldest to youngest students. “That’s a big age range. My 6-year-olds are probably closer to that 0-5 and my 12-year-olds aren’t afraid to go jump up on a rock wall or the monkey bars,” he said. “We’re being strategic on finding equipment that maybe fits both age ranges.”

Tanner said if the ECC were to move to the school campus, there could be an option for first graders to share a playground with the younger students.

A 6-foot-tall jungle gym, sensory wall and monkey bars were just a couple items kids can be prepared for. But there’s one piece of equipment Tanner had to see incorporated.

“Back when I was in school, my favorite thing was the merry-go-round. They don’t make them like they used to because those things were pretty dangerous and fast back in the day,” Tanner said. “Now what they have is an inclusive whirl that’s built into the ground and has a mechanism that slows it down so it doesn’t go as fast as you want. But it’s also inclusive for wheelchairs. Wheelchairs can go on there too so it’s a piece of equipment anyone has access to. We wanted to make sure that was on there.”

With bids due in March, Tanner isn’t sure construction will be done by the first day of school, but said even if they go a month without, it will be worth it.

In the past, several students in wheelchairs have been through the elementary school and utilized the cement pad with the basketball hoops, but their options will be expanded next year.

“It has a price tag to it, but it was an important thing for the playground,” Tanner said.