The Richmond Playground
North equipment installation
Many thanks to the many, many people, including contributors and volunteers, who helped to make this new playground a reality!
Colleen O'Brien worked tirelessly for this new equipment, doing everything from fundraising to planning to negotiating the red tape. Her hard work is a great asset to the school and the PTA.
Opus NW and Mr. Ron Torgensen, who contributed a 3-to-1 dollar match, design work, excavation work, and much more.
Volunteers: Bart Colson, Mike Baer, Mark Olenrich, Eric Yakley, Sharon Dody, Wilf Scheuerman, Jon Aaerr, Jason Hinkle, Annalee and Michael Moyers, Doug Peters, John Alexander, Laurent Avondstondt, Robert Griepenburg, Brian Trostel, Darren Otto, Darin Hoff, Darell Duffy, Suzanne Munro, Eric Brakstad, Jenny Bravin, Renee Lazarus, David Hill, Mark Desbrow, John Bartell, and Eric Fenner.
THANK YOU!!!!
As you can see from the pictures below, the new playground equipment is a hit with all ages. There are some minor issues to take care of (a part for the new tire swing is still on the way), but a good time was had by all who tested out the climbing wall, the spider web, the toadstools, the monkey bars, and the great new ways to use the zipline.
The groundwork began during the first week of January. By January 4, the area where the new equipment will be installed was excavated. Gravel and bark chips arrived, awaiting the installation of the new equipment that would provide more of a challenge for the upper grades. An exciting time is in store!
Playground rules
The following playground expectations are taught to children on the first day of school and reinforced throughout the school year. These rules apply whenever children are on the playground, so parents need to be familiar with them in order to monitor free play before and after school. Certified staff will always be on duty when children are on the playground for recess and outdoor activities during the school day.
- Play Safely
- No tag or chasing
- No grabbing, wrestling, king of the mountain
- Slide down slide on your bottom – one at a time
- Solve Problems
- Calm down and think
- Use Kelso's idea wheel
- Include Everyone
- No "lockouts"
- Tire swing – count (slowly) to 60
- Respect Each Other
- Listen to your classmates and teacher
- Use kind words and encouragement
- Take turns
- Share toys and equipment
- No grabbing, wrestling, king of the mountain
- Fun for Everyone
- Play organized games
- Include others in your games
- The Portland Trail Blazers contributed $800 to pay for the supervision of the volunteers helping with the installation
- Portland Roasting donated coffee and refreshments for the volunteers
- A hearty "Thank you!" to all the playground volunteers from all the workdays, including these who came on December 30th to install the Phase 1 equipment: (l to r, below) David Hill, Gary Kuney, Doug Peters, Wilf Scheuermann, Paul Gilles, Laurent Avondstondt, Peter Coonradt, Darell Duffy, and Dustin Klinger. Volunteers are making it happen!
January 9, 2007: Open for playing!
January 5: Bark dust spreading and final touches
December 30: Installation
Click each image to see a larger version
December 29 installation
Click each image to see a larger version
The first round of new equipment is on its way! Our volunteer installation is scheduled for Saturday, December 30, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Note: This is a rescheduled date. (See below for volunteering please!)
We have raised over $16,000, enough to place our first order for new equipment in the South playground area! This is "Phase 1" of our playground efforts, and will add a brightly colored big play structure, tire swings, and more to the area where the old and unsafe equipment has been removed.
We need to raise more funds to complete "Phase 1" beyond the equipment order. Extra funding is needed for installation-related expenses such as concrete, contractor oversight of the volunteer installation, and refreshments. These costs are approximately $3,000.
Making "Phase 2" happen will be our next big goal. This will address the North playground area, next to the existing wood play structure. This will really make our playground adequate, and even excellent, as our school enrollment expands.
The PTA Playground Committee is now headed by Mr. Gary Kuney. It's great to have his leadership on this important work. Thank you, Mr. Kuney!
To volunteer or inquire about fundraising support for our playground please contact Maylorie Townsend, PTA Playground Committee Sub-Chair for Communications at 503-235-0362 or 971-506-2885.
To volunteer on work days, please contact David Hill, PTA Playground Committee Sub-Chair for Equipment and Installation, at 503-230-0522 (h).
Summer 2005
In the summer of 2005, the Portland Public School (PPS) district removed certain Richmond playground elements because of safety concerns. This included "the volcano," the tire swing, all regular swings, as well as certain parts of still-existing equipment. PPS removes playgrounds but does not replace them. What is left is inarguably the worst playground in the district.
The Richmond Elementary School playground is no longer equipped to meet the play needs of the school's 300+ students. For the 2006-07 school year, the student population will grow as Richmond welcomes four (4) full kindergarten classes, a full-day preschool program, and the existing Native American Montessori preschool. Where will all these young children play?
A group of concerned Richmond parents, along with PE teacher Gary Kuney, have been meeting all year to design, implement, and fundraise for a new playground. Working with playground designer Steve Lebwohl from Wildwood Playgrounds, Ltd, we have designed a playground that will allow for creative play while giving kids physical and balance challenges. The north area will be designed for use by older children, while the south will be more fitting for the younger set.
The Richmond Neighborhood Association has also been involved by publishing updates in their newsletter and providing a wonderful letter of support to be used in our grant proposals. They have also offered to become involved when the times comes for the "volunteer installation."
Because the cost for the new equipment, installation, and site prep (addressing the significant drainage issues in both areas of the playground to be built upon) is high, the playground will be installed in stages. Our goal is to have some installation completed for the start of the 2006-07 school year.
The playground project is relying on grants for funding, although we welcome donations from individuals and local businesses. Because the PTA is a non-profit, all donations are tax deductible. Additionally, all purchases made through www.schoolpop.com will be directed towards the playground.
If you have any questions about this project, please feel free to contact any member of the Richmond playground committee.
Richmond PTA, as an affiliated constituent of Oregon PTA, pledges that membership in PTA shall be open, without discrimination, to anyone who believes in and supports the mission and purposes of National PTA.