PTA Spearheading Playground Equipment Campaign

The Glenwood PTA is spearheading a campaign to replace and upgrade playground equipment at West and Northeast elementary schools.

PTA president Jodi Hilsabeck said the PTA began realizing more than two years ago that the condition of the playground equipment at both schools needed to be addressed.

“At that time, we were starting to see a need,” she said. “The equipment was beginning to break down so we decided to pull together some preliminary plans on how to upgrade the playground equipment.”

The upgrades, Hilsabeck said, include the installation of equipment and surfaces that will allow children with physical disabilities and limitations to enjoy the two playgrounds.

“We noticed we were seeing more students in the district that have special needs so we decided we wanted to try to make the playground more inclusive,” she said.

Principal Genie Wickham said the ADA Americans With Disabilities Act) compliant equipment being considered at West Elementary include a swing and a piece that would attach to the climbing structure. A wheelchair accessible surface at the base of the equipment would also be added.

The entire playground project comes with an estimated price tag of $300,000 to $400,000. The PTA and school district have already committed a combined $140,000 to the project. Grants and donations are being pursued and just this week the PTA launched a trash bag fundraising campaign.

Noting that a portion of the climbing apparatus at the West playground is wrapped in yellow caution tape, Hilsabeck said broken equipment and safety concerns at the playground have accelerated the timeline for equipment repair and replacement.

“Our fundraising has become more intense because the current equipment is deteriorating faster than we expected,” she said. “There are a couple of pieces we weren’t planning to replace and they’re now broken so we feel like the need is more urgent to get the funding in place.”

At Northeast, repairs are needed on some of the existing equipment, including the main structure. An outdoor musical therapy area is also being built at the school.

Hilsabeck and Wickham both noted the playground equipment serves the community 12 months a year.

“When school’s not in session, they become community parks,” Hilsabeck said. “That’s why we think this is important for the whole community.”

Wickham said although no specific deadline for fundraising or timeline for construction have been established, the ideal scenario would be to have the repairs and improvements begin next spring and be completed in time for the start of the 2020-21school year. She realizes it will take time to secure the funds needed.

This week, students at both schools are bringing home order forms for the trash bags. Two types of bags are available – 15-gallon (kitchen size) white bags and 39-gallon outdoor bags that will be stamped with a Glenwood Rams logo. The 39-gallon bags come in rolls of 25 and the 15-gallon in rolls of 65. Community members who don’t have children attending West or Northeast can order the trash bags in person at Glenwood State Bank or Kenkel Family Chiropractic.

“Everybody needs trash bags so we hope we can get the community behind us on purchasing them and putting money back into the playground fund,” Hilsabeck said. The three classes at each school selling the most trash bags will earn a pizza or sweet treat party.

Additional information about the playground equipment campaign is available from the Glenwood PTA or the offices at West and Northeast schools.