History/Project Overview:
In spring of 2011, the Turtle Lake Elementary PTA began to explore the opportunity to make improvements to the playground. In the fall of 2011, a survey was conducted. Based on the survey results, the Turtle Lake community feels there is an opportunity to improve our existing playground.
Turtle Lake serves as a model of excellence. As the Turtle Lake vision statement reflects, “Turtle Lake will provide a positive learning environment which stimulates students to develop healthy relationships and implement goals through effective problem-solving techniques in order to achieve their personal best academically and socially.” Our school has fostered an inclusive indoor learning environment to help students achieve their personal best academically. One way children achieve their personal best socially, is through play. Extending this quality of inclusion to the outdoors, through playground improvements, would help foster development of each child’s personal best socially.
The Turtle Lake Playground Committee is considering how to best enhance the school’s playground to provide an enriching and inclusive environment that will more effectively meet the needs of all Turtle Lake students and the surrounding community. Because the scope of this project is outside and beyond district and PTA funding, it is important to recognize that plans for classroom enrichment will not be affected. Funding that would be used to support this project would be garnered through fund-raising efforts.
With the help of community members, Turtle Lake professionals, parents and playground personnel, we plan to implement improvements that will ultimately support "A Playground for Everyone.”
The current surface is covered in engineered wood fiber
(aka wood chips) and is not easily accessible to motorized wheelchairs and can
be difficult to navigate by those with mobility challenges. The playground
includes only two swings for those with accessibility issues and those swings
face away from the play area, further isolating the children that use them from
their peers.
(aka wood chips) and is not easily accessible to motorized wheelchairs and can
be difficult to navigate by those with mobility challenges. The playground
includes only two swings for those with accessibility issues and those swings
face away from the play area, further isolating the children that use them from
their peers.