Sensory Devices Asked For Upon Unveiling Of Proposed South Playground Plan At Springs

“Here’s our new playground.”

On Tuesday night, Springs School Superintendent Debra Winter unveiled the proposed kindergarten through second grade playground. She said input on equipment and style was collected by a committee made up of teachers, many of whom are parents.

The south playground plan depicts pictures of swing sets, slides, a seesaw, bridge, petal step climber, rope climber, music makers and a playhouse.

Student support services and occupational therapist Whitney Reidlinger said sensory equipment is essential.

“It’s crucial we have something that meets a lot of needs,” she said during the Tuesday, April 26, board of education meeting.

Functional academics special education teacher Kristy Lamonda also stressed the need for an accessible playground for all, and asked that the board of education and administration keep that in mind. “There’s not enough that can be said for how important that is,” she said.

The teacher also requested the handicap-accessible swing that was purchased with Girl Scout fundraiser money several years ago be included in the plan. Lamonda said she was originally told it needed to be relocated amid ongoing construction, but said it was never built into the plan of the rear playground, with the age group it was intended for.

“It was asked that, like was told to members involved in the fundraising, it would be incorporated in plans for this playground,” Lamonda said. “We are hoping that somehow — with all this hard work that the girls put in — that this, while it exists somewhere in storage, be incorporated on one of these playgrounds.”

She also asked about the tree, which she said matters a lot to Springs alumni.

“I understand it’s not a financial priority, however, I think there might be people in the community who want to get together to save it and relocate it,” Lamonda said.

Board Vice President Timothy Frazier agreed with the educators about adding additional sensory-focused pieces. “I hear what you’re saying,” he said. “There’s got to be other items. I know there are plenty of apparatuses out there.”

Frazier also underlined the need for safe equipment, saying certain items like monkey bars and seesaws have been known to cause more severe injuries.

Board member Patrick Brabant asked the plans go to the insurance agency first for approval.

The playground, the superintendent said, is going out to bid with multiple surfaces, either imitation wood chips or a rubber mat.

“We’re going to get two prices, because the cost of everything went up,” Winter said.