Partners step up for kindergarten playground

Ever since Delano Elementary School began all-day kindergarten four years ago, staff members and kindergarten students found that playground equipment space was at a premium during recess time.

 

“The playground was sufficient before that, but now when you have 150 to 160 students out there for recess, it just was not big enough,” said Principal Darren Schuler.

 

That changed when the DES Partners in Education group budgeted about $30,000 to construct additional playground equipment. Construction began over the MEA break this fall, and the new unit opened to students on Friday, Nov. 10.

 

“That following week so many kids were interested in using it at the same time that we had to designate one group a day that would have the privilege of going to use it to break it in,” said Assistant Principal Greg Hinker. “Now it’s being used fully every day and the kids are excited about it.”

 

Creative play

The new equipment from Landscape Structures consists of posts connected by a network of ropes and small platforms that students can use to climb to the top. A spinning feature, monkey bars and a slide are also included, and additional swings were added elsewhere.

 

“The structure is unique in that there are a lot of problem-solving skills that go into it,” said Schuler. “It’s not your typical playground structure where it’s pretty simple and you know what to do. This one is designed to give kids multiple different ways of reaching their end goal of getting to the top. So our teachers have had some fun watching kids team up together or think of different ways to use it. It’s a neat structure.”

 

Hinker added that some of the older children in first grade and third grade were able to watch the construction from their classroom windows.

 

“They are a little envious of the kindergartners because they have such a great play structure. Some of our older kids want to get out there and use it too because it’s so nice,” he said.

 

Team effort

The need for more equipment had been recognized at various levels for a number of years, and Schuler said the process of solving that problem involved a whole team of individuals. After the PIE group and the school’s site base team agreed to pursue the project, Schuler and the kindergartner teachers met with Landscape Structures personnel to design the playground.

 

Aside from Landscape Structures, two other local businesses were also involved in the construction. Mike Jaunich of Alpine Landscape handled the installation, and Mike Jensen of Jenco Property Maintenance donated labor, and removed concrete and existing items. The school’s custodial staff helped dismantle some existing equipment and did grading work.

 

“It was a team project,” said Schuler.

 

Room to grow

While the new equipment helps meet demand for now, there is space available to add on in the future.

 

“We left a little bit of space in our design for some future additions, but I don’t know when that would be,” said Schuler. “Eventually I think one more structure would be really fun. Hopefully that’s something we can do down the road.”