By Christina Campbell
The Kaufman (Texas) Herald
Not every child gets to enjoy a slide during recess and for some climbing a jungle gym is simply too difficult, but at Scurry-Rosser Elementary there is now a new place where all children can play together no matter their limitations.
“We really wanted a playground that everyone can play on and no one was excluded,” Principal Martha Blessing said. “We chose the one we chose because of the value it has for our special needs kids. It is ADA compliant and it has a lot of lower activities that children in wheelchairs can role up and play so they can join in.”
Elementary leaders have been longing for a new playground for elementary students and it took a series of donations that finally made the dream a reality.
“We got a very large private donation, the PTO gave us money and the Kemp ISD Co-Op gave us money to help support it because we have their life skills kids on this campus,” Blessings said. “The PTO was instrumental in helping this and our private donor.”
Kemp ISD and Scurry-Rosser ISD life skills students both attend elementary school at Scurry-Rosser Elementary under a cooperative agreement that pools resources.
Add that to the government stimulus that finally arrived late in the year and the young Wildcats were on their way to a new state of the art playground.
In addition to wide clearances between poles for easy wheelchair access, the new equipment boasts several tic-tac-toe style games at ground level and a storefront to play pretend.
“We thought this design was so cool because there were so many activities at ground level,” Blessing said. “We don’t currently have anyone in a wheelchair, but we do have some life skills needs that have trouble getting around and that’s why this is so good for them.
“It gives them a chance to be more independent.”
However, it isn’t just life skills students that will reap the benefits of the school’s latest toy.
With six slides, a pole to ride down and even a bridge to cross over, the play set has enough fun to keep all students entertained.
