For many preschool and kindergarten-aged children, recess is the most exciting part of the school day. And with new playground equipment at Middletown Prairie Elementary School, the 15-minute venture outside could be the highlight of the 2014-2015 school year.
While providing children with a fun and stimulating recess experience was an important piece of the playground plan, Mahomet-Seymour School officials did not overlook the 135,000 playground injuries that happen throughout the United States each year when children fall on a concrete surface.
Each year hospital emergency departments treat nearly 250,000 playground injuries including severe fractures, internal injuries, concussions and dislocations. Schools also treat two-million minor injuries in their offices.
Because 56-percent of these injuries happen to children between the ages of five to nine, Middletown Prairie principal Carol Shallenberger felt it is important to have safe playground surfacing, such as mulch, sand or rubber surface outside the new building.
While standard playground expenditures were included in the budget for Middletown Prairie, school officials looked to school-affiliated organizations to help with the additional $30,000 needed to install a safe playground surface.
Mahomet IGA owner, Brooks Marsh stepped forward to raise the money for the “Hometown Proud Community Playground.”
“It’s a playground built by all of us for many children to come,” he said.
With the generous donations from the six founding sponsors, Mahomet-Seymour School Foundation, Mahomet IGA, Mahomet Lions Club, Mahomet Rotary Club, Mahomet Chamber of Commerce and Fisher National Bank, the rubber surface was poured last month.
The surface, which is thin on the outskirts of the playground, varies in depth based on equipment heights.
Marsh said while mulch is an approved safe surface material, it also has been known to contain Hydrogen Sulfide and has been connected to eye and mouth injuries.
“From a cost standpoint, (the rubber surface) is pretty expensive up front, but over the 15-year life of the material, we save money because we won’t have to replace the mulch every year.”
The surface was poured in June to meet the needs of students in August, but fundraising efforts continue. Donation letters were sent out recently, and Mahomet IGA patrons can donate money in the checkout line.
“It is such a blessing to see how giving people are in this community,” Marsh said. “It’s amazing.”
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