HAMILTON, Ga. (WRBL) — Although it may look like an ordinary playground, the newly installed recess equipment at Park Elementary School in Harris County will be able to help students play in a new way.
The school opened up their long-awaited handicap accessible playground set shortly after the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
After three years, the Park Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) was able to raise $67,000 to purchase and install new inclusive and accessible playground equipment for all the students to enjoy. The new set includes ramps, math and music boards that are specifically designed with the school's adapted curriculum students in mind.
"Our Park PTO, led by president Megan Palmer, she reached out to us after a parent communication with her as well as teacher communications that looked at an opportunity that we had available for some fundraising to provide our school with an inclusive playground set." said Park Elementary Principal Dr.Allyson Douthit.
The school says with support from the community, fundraising through boosters, t-shirt and merchandise sales and the school's Spring bookfair, the three-year effort finally paid off.
"A good majority of the fundraising came from grandparents," PTO president Megan Palmer said. "Some came from aunts and uncles, family friends and of course the parents. It was widespread and I think we even got 26 states."
Principal Douthit explained that although the school has long been supportive and inclusive of their special needs students and families, the new addition take their support a step further.
"It was very difficult for our students with special needs to access. Now this piece of equipment will be able to serve all of our tiger cubs and they will all get a part of playing together all at the same time." Douthit said.
The school allows all students to enjoy at least 10-20 minutes of recess time each school day, depending on the heat index and other weather conditions.
Students on the playground told WRBL on Monday that they love their new playground and look forward to it everyday.
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