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Seattle Elementary School Playground Upgrade Projects

Many of the plans to upgrade elementary school playgrounds in Seattle are concerned with making play sites more accessible to special needs children. The "Everybody Plays" project at Thornton Creek Elementary, for instance, was created in memory of Rose Chavez, who died of a rare epileptic disorder. Other projects, such as Lafayette Elementary's "Play It Forward" and John Muir Elementary's "Playground Project" are designed around compliance with the ADA, or Americans with Disabilities Act.
  1. Laurelhurst Elementary Playground Renovation

    • Plans to renovate the playground at Laurelhurst Elementary have been active since early 2011. The elementary school is located at 4530 46th Ave N.E. in Seattle, Washington. Plans for the playground include a new 4-square, kickball, hopscotch and half-basketball court. Plants and bushes would surround the play area, and a covered play court with a "quiet floor" and "climbing wall" would be built. A tetherball, kickball and football field is also included in the renovation plans.

    John Muir Elementary Playground Project

    • Located at 3301 South Horton St. in Seattle, designs for the John Muir Elementary Playground Project were completed in March 2010. According to the project website, the purpose of the upgrade is to "make it easier for families in the surrounding neighborhood to utilize and enjoy the playground" and to "provide structures that are more accessible for smaller and preschool age children." Significant improvements include a butterfly and hummingbird garden, raised vegetable beds and fence artwork.

    Lafayette Elementary Play It Forward Legacy Project

    • According to the project website, one of the central goals of the Play It Forward Legacy Project is to provide "a safe, accessible, aesthetically appealing public space" that includes "a new play structure with much-needed ADA accessibility and play components." The new playground will feature "a more park-like environment" with extensive lawns, green play areas, shade and ample seating. Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2011. Lafayette Elementary is located at 2645 California Ave. S.W. in Seattle.

    The Rose Chavez "Everybody Plays" Project

    • This memorial project was created after Rose Chavez -- a student at Thornton Creek Elementary School in Seattle, Washington -- died from complications of Dravet Syndrome, a rare epileptic disorder caused by gene deficiencies. According to the project website, even though the school has a "large and spacious playground," it lacks accessibility for "children with special needs." The site claims that there are over 500 children in the area who could benefit from the upgraded playground. The school is located at 7711 43rd Ave. N.E. in Seattle.

    Other ADA Playground Upgrades

    • Beacon Hill Elementary, located at 3801 Beacon Ave. S in Seattle, is planning a $180,000 upgrade to its playground. According to the Beacon Hill Elementary School blog, part of the upgrade will focus on "adding ADA access to the playground, replacing surfacing where necessary and adding other safety features." According to the Seattle Parks Foundation, two recent upgrades to the Maple Elementary School playground -- located at 4925 Corson Ave. S in Seattle -- has made "play area safer, ADA accessible, and more fun."

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