The Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce celebrated the opening of Taft Elementary
School's new inclusive playground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday. The state-of-the-art playground features accessible equipment designed to ensure all students can participate in outdoor play and physical activity. The playground includes a comprehensive play structure with three slides, an adaptive obstacle course with climbing wall, a spider web climbing net, and specialized equipment for students with mobility needs. Notable inclusive features include a disc swing, double seesaw bouncer, and soon-to-be-installed musical instruments and basketball shooters. The design intentionally incorporates elements that support students of all abilities.
Funded primarily through American Rescue Plan ESSER III funds ($271,505) with additional support from LCSD Maintenance and General Funds ($10,926), the total project cost was $282,431 for equipment and materials. However, the District's innovative approach to construction led to substantial savings of over $150,000 in labor and installation costs.
"Having certified playground safety inspectors and installers on our staff, like Tim Kaufman and Riley Hiner, showcases our commitment to building internal capacity" said Rich Belloni, LCSD Facilities Director.
The team spent approximately one month installing the playground, with crews ranging from
two to six staff members at various stages. Taft Elementary Principal Becca Bostwick emphasized the collaborative nature of the project. "Thank you to our school board and Dr. Tolan for recognizing the need for a new playground as the previous structure was over 20 years old. Our Taft staff and students had the vision for what a playground should be and helped with designing from the structures to the color selection." Students Tori and Payten shared their appreciation to the Facilities and Maintenance crew during the ceremony: "You and your team members have worked tirelessly. The attention to details and commitment to quality and the teamwork that went into construction has not gone unnoticed. You created a safe space for children to explore and grow mentally and emotionally."
"A new playground had been high on the priority list for Taft Elementary for years" said
Superintendent Dr. Majalise Tolan. "Providing students with a safe, accessible, and fun outdoor experience is important." The new playground showcases LCSD's dual commitment to inclusive student spaces and responsible fiscal management, demonstrating how skilled internal teams can create lasting value for our school communities.
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