Playground Proposal

Davey Elementary School opened as Kent’s high school in 1922. For the last 23 years, it has been an elementary school which currently houses 447 preschool through fifth-grade students, with an annual increase of about twenty-five children 21% of Davey’s K-5 population and 48% of the preschool population receive Special Education Services. 56% of these students identified with Special Needs require moderate to intensive support.

21% of Davey’s K-5 population and 48% of the preschool population receive Special Education Services.

While Davey is not the only elementary school in the district with students who have special needs, it does service most students who need moderate to intensive support in the district.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, schools must provide access to at least one of each of the types of ground-level equipment at a play area, access by ramp or transfer system to at least half of the elevated structures, and also have surfaces that accommodate people with wheelchairs.  At Davey, while all children have access, that access is burdensome and time consuming for their caregivers. Because of the mulch surrounding the play equipment, caregivers must lift and carry children to the different play areas or swings. As children grow, this becomes an increasingly challenging task for our teachers and aids. This often means that the children end up just being walked around at recess, rather than developing valuable social skills and playing with their peers – rather than truly having equal access to be able to play with their peers equitably.

Because the building and grounds were established long before these regulations, Davey families, staff, and teachers are burdened with the additional challenge of having to retrofit equipment and procedures to accommodate the children. Currently, students in wheelchairs can really only play on the playground if they are small enough to be carried to the equipment, because most chairs will not operate properly on the mulch. This creates a heartbreaking divide between these and the able-bodied children on the playground.

Davey Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) would like to address this problem to make its playground more accessible and inclusive to all body types and needs. We have spoken to aids, teachers, parents, staff, the Kent City School District (KCSD) School Board, KCSD Administration, and KCSD maintenance and grounds supervisor to determine how to address these needs for all users.

Our current plan is split into two phases and will depend on the funds we can raise. Our minimum goal is to add at least two pieces of accessible equipment to the primary playground near the building. We would like to add an accessible merry-go-round that all bodies can use, as well as a climber that has a ramp, a rocking boat, a sensory spinning chair, and several sensory boards for all abilities. These are pieces of equipment that Davey does not currently have that would provide diversity of activities for all kids, while allowing them to all play together and independently, regardless of their physical abilities. During installation, we will also remove the mulch under these new pieces, bring in rock to raise to existing ground level, and then install a pour-in-place rubber playground surface. This will allow our students with physical differences or adaptive equipment for ambulation to access the playground more independently without strenuous adult assistance. This rubber surface will also extend beneath the accessible swings for easier transfer. On the preschool playground, we are proposing a pour-in-place path to the accessible swing, and a music wall for diversity of play.

This will allow our students with physical differences or adaptive equipment for ambulation to access the playground more independently without strenuous adult assistance.

To accomplish this, we will need to remove the purple monkey bars and the small plastic tunnel from the existing playground. These monkey bars could potentially be relocated to another playground or to the lower playground with some additional funds (although this was not included in our quote). The teachers also requested removal of the railroad ties in the center of the playground, as they offer little benefit and present tripping hazards.

GameTime has quoted $228,000 for phase 1. However, this plan and quote only include the bare minimum needed for this playground to be accessible for all Davey students. Phase 2 would entail replacing the second half of the playground and all the mulch.  Phase 2 would include poured rubber surface for the entire playground and the removal of all the mulch.  This plan would also replace the swing sets and bring in a new, large climber to replace the existing climber that is nearing the end of its lifespan.  This phase also includes an accessible sensory spinning chair as part of the playground.  It would also include several sensory music play pieces and several benches for teachers, kids, and parents to rest while the children play.  Phase 2 is quoted at over $188,000 for a project total of around $415,000.  However, if we’re able to raise enough money to install both phases at once, we will save over $7000 in mobilization costs, because the combined total project cost would be closer to $408,000.

Since Davey’s grounds are open to the public year-round, this playground acts as a community playground as well. The City of Kent does not currently have any accessible playgrounds of this size within city limits. Neighborhood children regularly utilize this playground, so the benefits of upgrading the equipment would extend to the whole community and not just the Davey neighborhood.  We would like to be able to supply a safe and engaging location for children to play and develop their gross motor and social skills for lifelong health and wellbeing.

Davey PTO conducted a small fundraiser last year, yielding over $3000. Some of this was spent to repaint the games on the pavement and to purchase small equipment such as jump ropes, sand toys, and playground balls. The remaining amount is earmarked to start this proposed project and to cover marketing expenses. We have also received grants for $30,000, $75,000, and several smaller grants and individual contributions. Any monies raised over our proposed goals will be utilized by PTO for other education and wellness activities for the Davey community.

“We would like to add an accessible merry-go-round that all bodies can use, as well as a climber that has a ramp, a rocking boat, a sensory spinning chair, and several sensory boards for all abilities.”

Phase 1 is quoted at over $228,000, and Phase 2 is quoted at $188,000 for a project total of around $415,000.

Few causes are more worthy than bringing joy and hope to our children. The importance of providing equitable playground access and developmental opportunities to all our children, while reducing social and physical isolation cannot be overstated. Please help us to create an inclusive playground that serves as a safe space promoting play among Davey children of all ages and abilities.

Renderings by GameTime