Highlands Elementary School debuts brand-new inclusive playground
APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – For the past two years, Highlands Elementary and Odyssey Magnet School have been raising funds for more inclusive and accessible playground equipment, and on Monday, officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to showcase the completion of phase one.
An accessible playground is one where students of all ability levels have access to different types of structures and experiences.
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The playground features swings with a high back and harness/seatbelt for students who have trouble maintaining an upright seated position, wheelchair-accessible play structures where a child in a wheelchair can either roll directly onto or easily transfer out of the chair, and more.
Students from across the Appleton Area School District with varying disabilities, including early childhood students, are bussed to Highlands Elementary School for its unique programming.
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“With this new playground, we are so excited for increased peer interaction since all students can play together in one location and for this resource to be available to community members who may have family members with differing abilities to access the playground at the school,” said Kari Krueger, Principal of Highlands/Odyssey Elementary School.
The school’s staff, students, and families continue to raise an additional $65,000 for phase two of the project, which includes an accessible slide and rubber surfacing that will increase accessibility to all equipment on the playground.