Child’s play gets new look on playgrounds of schools

Monday, July 27, 1998 | 11:39 a.m.

A number of Henderson elementary students returning to school this fall will have fresh accommodations waiting for them at recess.

The old playgrounds at six schools have been brought up to new Clark County School District standards.

The renovations, part of a 1996 bond issue that focused on outside improvements and modernizations, will continue at 70 other elementary schools throughout the district, said spokeswoman Betty Hollister.

Newton, Taylor, McCaw, Dooley, Sewell and Galloway elementary schools in Henderson were the first group of schools to receive the renovations. Taylor and McCaw opened in 1954.

"They're in a much older part of Henderson," Hollister said. "They were much older schools where improvements were greatly needed."

The 1996 bond allocated $121 million to the rehabilitation program and modernization program for 130 schools in the district. The cost for each playground renovation averages $122,000 per school, except Newton Elementary which already had new playground equipment.

Safety is a major factor behind the playground renovations.

"In the past 10 years, safety requirements have been made stricter by the Consumer Product Safety Commission," said Dave Holdsworth, engineering specialist in rehab planning for the school district.

Upgrade requirements include eliminating sharp edges, protruding bolts, and regulating sizes of openings where a child can get a head or hand caught.

Dale Scheideman, the district's director of planning and engineering, said some of the current equipment may be as old as 40 years.

The worn, bent and broken galvanized equipment is being replaced with modular, coated metal playground equipment with larger posts for better support and punched steel so material is lighter and provides air flow to keep the area cooler. The vinyl-covered decks provide a safer, textured walkway.

A new safety fall surface, made from recycled tires, will cover the area surrounding the equipment, replacing the unsanitary sandbox lots.

"Old schools traditionally used sand as a fall surface. Only there is no natural sand in Las Vegas," Scheideman said. "The angular sand that's used, compacts and makes for a harder surface. Sand also collects bugs and broken glass. Cats and dogs use it. Keeping it clean has become a difficult chore.

"When we finish with the 1996 bond issue, all elementary schools will have the new safety fall surface," he added.

There are 142 elementary schools in the school district.

Two-layer material with stranded rubber is covered with a top coat, also made from rubber.

"When you walk on it, it's soft. The thickness of the material varies with the higher equipment," Holdsworth said.

The playground equipment, designed specifically for the age of the child, will accommodate body size and strength. Each school will have three separate playgrounds to accommodate kindergarten, primary grades, and intermediate grades. The equipment varies in size, height and reach capabilities, Scheideman said. Only one school has combined intermediate and primary playgrounds, with a separate kindergarten playground. The playgrounds also will be wheelchair accessible.

The next set of schools to receive new playgrounds includes Mackey, Booker, Gilbert, Fitzgerald, Bracken and Hewetson. Renovations are scheduled to begin in September.

The 1996 bond issue also is funding 95 classroom and program additions to schools in the district. Eleven additions are near completion and will be ready for the new school year, according to district officials.