Play For All Dalton playground project seeks support
This is a rendering of one of the possible choices for a new playground at Dalton Elementary School.
When the school year started on Aug. 21 in Dalton, those who lived near Dalton Elementary again heard the sounds of children playing outside on the playground. For many children recess is the best part of the school day, and teachers would agree kids need a break from school and a chance to expend some energy.
Unfortunately, with the current playground setup, wheelchair-using children are unable to easily have a chance to play and interact with their peers. The Play For All project is a fundraising effort to build a new, inclusive playground for the school and community and is led by a team of teachers and people who work with kids in Dalton Local Schools.
Although the school building was opened less than a decade ago, some of the playground equipment is older than that.
“The current playground has pieces that were donated from the old Kidron Elementary playground and are already in need of repair,” said Carli Braun, the elementary school physical therapist who is helping head up the initiative. “Other structures were new with the construction of the new building, but these structures are not adequately meeting the needs of our student body and community.
“I would go out for playground observations and be frustrated at the lack of accessibility of our current playground. From the play structures to the mulch surfacing, kids with mobility difficulties are unable to access the play equipment. Play is so important to the physical, social and emotional development for kids.”
If the playground is able to be fully funded by the end of 2023, it could be ready to be played on for the 2024-25 school year. The brand-new structures would replace all the current structures in the same location.
“This playground has been designed with all challenge levels in mind, from those with severe physical limitations to kids who are able to run and play at age level,” Braun said.
With insights from the district’s intervention specialists and her own young children, Braun worked with Snider Recreation to come up with a plan that would meet all the needs on their list.
Some of the elements that would be included are as follows:
—Rubberized surfacing for wheeled access.
—Wheelchair ramps and eye-level play panels.
—Wheelchair-specific play pieces.
—Communication boards.
—Sensory pods.
—Musical instrument components.
—Shade cover.
Braun said the playground will not only benefit the school children, but also the community as a whole.
“My sister uses a wheelchair, and I am so excited for the opportunity for her to be able to play with her niece and nephews in a way that hasn’t yet been possible,” she said. “The entire community benefits from this project. The new playground will also help set Dalton apart from other areas as we will be one of the few districts that has made inclusion in their playground design a priority.”
Holly Moody, a third-grade teacher at Dalton and the mother of a wheelchair-using child, is working with Braun to help the community understand why the project is needed.
“As a parent this playground will give us a place that we can take our whole family to play,” Moody said. “We are excited to have an opportunity to be able to take our three children to a nearby playground where they can all play independently or with one another if they choose.
“It will also provide freedom to move about the playground for our daughter Merida, who is a wheelchair user. Today, she is limited to us, her parents, taking her from activity to activity, and there are only a handful of things she can really enjoy. This new playground will have accessible activities, communication boards and new ways for her to play. It will mean so much to me to know that my child will come to school and have the same opportunities to get outside and be active.”
The total amount to raise is $713,642. People are encouraged to check with their employers to see if they would corporately donate toward the Play For All project. Checks can be made payable to Dalton Local Schools with the memo “Playground” and can be dropped off at the board office during normal hours or mailed to 177 N. Mill St., Dalton, OH 44618.
More information and a video explaining the project can be found at www.daltonlocal.org/play-for-all.