By Andy Klotz, APR, MCS Chief Communications Officer—
MUNCIE, IN – South View Elementary students and children in the surrounding neighborhood are creating fun memories and burning off lots of energy at the elaborate, new playground that just opened outside the school. With more than two dozen components stretching over a quarter-acre area, the new “Quaker Mill” equipment is already a big hit with the kids.
“They love it,” said South View Principal Dr. Casey Smitherman. “Our kids are so excited to come out here every day and play on this. They love the spinning chair thing, and that there are more and better swings.”
The new equipment is the result of a $226,000 school improvement grant, and completes a run of several playground upgrades throughout Muncie Community Schools. This one is special because it is designed for better inclusion of students with physical disabilities.
Along with several traditional swings, slides and climbing areas, this system installed by PlaygroundEquipment.com is fully ADA compliant with several ramps and mobility aids, including wheelchair access. It also has several play/learning panels and freestanding equipment where kids can make music.
“We have a couple students with exceptional disabilities, and then 60 preschool students, too, so we wanted to make sure it was a playground everyone could play on,” Dr. Smitherman said. “Many kids in our exceptional needs classrooms have autism, so for them to have all these sensory areas to play in is particularly helpful for them.”
The brightly colored components sit adjacent to the older slides, swings and monkey bars that have been there for years. The playground is designed for 5- to 12-year-olds and should last for many years. A video of students playing on the new playground can be viewed here.
About Muncie Community Schools
Serving the local community since 1855, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) educates more than 5,000 students at six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school while also managing several other educational facilities. Through its unique partnership with Ball State University, MCS strives to maximize each student’s potential so he or she can be a positive, productive member of society.
