Schools

Updated Highview Playground Design Revealed

This is not the final product, but is improved from the previous one

Many crowded around the design of the Highview Community Playground when it was revealed . The playground schematic, drawn up by Leathers and Associates, was just a preliminary one based off of the ideas the designers gathered from that one Design Day.

After the excitement settled down, the Design Committee continued working with Leathers to further improve and adjust the original reveal. At the Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, they revealed the updated design to the Board and the audience.

"I think it looks beautiful," said Board President Anne Byrne. "You guys did a great job and thought of everything."

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This updated design is not the final and complete one, but it's a lot closer to the finished product than the first one. When looking at the design, Church Street is to the north of the design and Highview is to the right.

"We're still workign with the designers to do final changes and tweak things," said Krista Vasti, Design Chair. She added that the community has raised about $52,000 so far. The target goal is $185,000 by October because Build Week will be Columbus Day Weekend.

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Although tears and empty hearts came about when the previous "Castle" playground was torn down last year, high hopes have replaced those holes and the community has rallied together to once again do what was done in 1990: fundraise and build a new playground by the community, for the community.

"I think it's exquisite," said Superintendent Mark McNeill. "When the children see it, they'll think their ideas came to life."

There will be a Big Kids area for school-aged children and a tot lot that is geared toward toddlers to preschool age. In comparison to the first schematic, here are the changes or what remained the same:

  • There is still blacktop to the left of the playground as that is a required evacuation area for the school
  • The playground entrance is still about the same spot as where the "Castle" playground's entrance was
  • The number of trees is still the same although their location on the playground has changed
  • There is now a therapeutic swing in the tot lot
  • Picnic tables have been added
  • A raised ampitheater that provides seating has been added to the center area of the playground for parents to socialize and keep a close eye on their kids if they have one in both the tot lot and the big kids area
  • The dragon theme remains for the tot lot
  • There are a lot more peaks
  • The Castle theme has been enhanced
  • The tot lot is smaller and more appropriately sized for the ages of the children that will be using it
  • The Big Kids area is more elaborate and expanded.
  • Sensory items and a musical area has been added for kids with special needs and different interests
  • More bench seating is added around each tree and along the playground walls
  • The rocket ship has been switched out for a tower, which is more appropriate for the "castle" theme.
  • There are four playground telephones

To find out ways to help the committees reach their target amount, visit HighviewPlayground.com. There's also an upcoming and the playground committee is looking for participants and sponsors.


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