WEST LAFAYETTE − “The transformation of the Ridgewood Elementary School playground is about more than new equipment, it’s about creating a space that inspires movement, encourages interaction and strengthens our community,” according to Superintendent Mike Masloski.
The current playground has reached the end of its life span after about 35 years. Equipment had broken or was missing pieces, which limited active play, he said in an announcement.
Children not only play in the space during recess, but after school hours and during the summer. Masloski said the new playground would remain open to the public while also serving preschool to third grade students during the school day.
The total project is a bit more than $1.1 million with $55,000 coming from local donations and the remainder from district capital improvement funding, per Masloski. All equipment is from Game Time with installation by DWA Recreation.
“The lack of functional equipment has diminished interactions among students, impacting not only their physical activity, but also their social development,” Masloski said in the announcement. “Our vision is to create a playground that promotes physical activity and fun through thoughtfully designed play structures and creative outdoor learning experiences.”
Work is being done this summer to renovate the playground with new surfacing and equipment. It will serve as a national demonstration site for the Play On! program by PlayCore, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. PlayCore has its roots in playground design and construction, but also does other types of recreation spaces such as splash pads, climbing walls and dog parks.
The playground will feature a multi-purpose pavilion for outdoor learning, but could also be used by community groups after hours for meetings, events and other special programming. The 44×40-foot pavilion will feature picnic tables.
New equipment will also be handicapped accessible. This includes ramped entry points, adaptive swings, sensory play panels and wheelchair-friendly pathways. The surface will be a poured rubber surface, providing a soft and cushioned foundation to hopefully prevent injury and allow students with disabilities to traverse the play area more easily.
Masloski said they will focus on incorporating six elements to support physical development − balance, brachiate, climbing, spinning, sliding and swinging.
“These elements will be designed to provide progressive skill development, ensuring children can engage in beginning, intermediate and advanced level activities that challenge them while promoting confidence and growth,” he said.
Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 17 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Ridgewood’s playground with a purpose meant to inspire movement and encourage interaction
Reporting by Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune / Coshocton Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
