2008 CPC Rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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Project: Harrington Preschool Playground CPA Category: Recreation Amount Requested: $75,000 Amount Recommended: $75,000 CPC Vote: Approval (9 -0) Project Description: Lexington Children's Place (LCP), a public preschool program that has served Lexington children, with and without special needs, at various sites for 16 years, is proposing to construct an accessible playground at the new Harrington School. LCP provides preschool programming for 75 children and special education services for 40 children. Many children attending LCP have physical challenges that do not allow them to enjoy typical playground equipment. These children often require ramps and transfer platforms, specialized swings and sandboxes with supports for sitting, in order to participate fully in the gross motor curriculum that is intrinsic to their learning. Additionally, neighborhood preschoolers, as well as Harrington kindergarten and first grade students, with and without special needs, could utilize this fully accessible playground structure. Project Goals and Objectives: An appropriate- sized, wheelchair ramped playground will be constructed, separate from the existing Harrington playground, in an area not previously used for play structures. The play equipment will include transfer platforms, specialized swings, and sandboxes with supports for sitting, to facilitate gross motor development. Specialized playground will encourage daily outdoor play, which is viewed by the Mass. Department of Education as an important preschool opportunity for learning. Project Benefit: The Lexington Children's Place has recently located at the new Harrington School, which has no appropriate playground for small children with physical challenges. This project would address the need for new play equipment designed to encourage learning and physical development of preschoolers who attend the LCP program. Neighborhood children, as well as kindergartners attending Harrington who may be physically challenged, will also be able to use this specialized playground. Funding Request: The project is estimated to cost $95,000, of which $20,000 has already been raised by parent fundraising efforts. The $75,000 requested from CPA funds will pay for furnishing and installing playground structures, including: a ramped structure with two slides, monkey bars, two covered play spaces, wiggle bridge, two teeter totters, four accessible swings and a covered sandbox. Site preparation ($20,000) will include layout and excavation of play area, installation of geo- fabric and wood -fiber surface, three rubber wear areas, as well as clearance of several large trees, leveling of the lot and erecting four foot -high fencing with double gates. 14