Evergreen Elementary Seeks Public's Help Installing New Playground
Volunteers are needed to secure a new section of playground Saturday, Jan. 21.
A section of Evergreen Elementary's playground—an old wooden strucutre—is falling apart, says Principal Gaylene Rosachi.
"There's a part of our playground that's very old," Rosachi said. "It's rotted and broken in places. It's not possible to repair it with current safety standards, so we're replacing it with something new and safer."
The California Department of Public Health oversees playground safety, regulating details such as types of gyms and materials, ADA accessibility and groundcover. They're then inspected by a certified playground safety official.
Funded by Evergreen's PTA, the school has purchased a new gym from Sacramento-based company All About Play for $24,000 in fundraising dollars. Rosachi says the new set will be more active, with more climbing, balancing and spinning features.
Volunteers are needed this weekend—if it doesn't rain—to help install the playground. School officials are also seeking donations for woodchip groundcover and cement to hold the set in place.
We "need strong, competent helpers, who know how to use tools," Evergreen said in a statement. "We will need people with drills, wheelbarrows, ladders, shovels, etc."
"We're really excited," Rosachi said.
Please contact Rosaschi at 707-588-5715 if you would like to help with this project.
LP
9:01 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
How is the structure meeting ADA standards with woodchip ground cover? I don't think wheelchairs get over that very well. Most places use rubber now (although Novato didn't have much luck with that with their new structures as there was an increase in breaks. You have to make sure it is thick enough).
Angela Hart
11:43 am on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Thanks for your comment Guy — the school has not yet purchased the groundcover, but yes, there is some you can get that meets ADA requirements.