New Playground in the Works for Richards Kindergartners

When the playground for Richards School kindergarten students was removed to make room for the school’s new cafeteria addition, a group of parents mobilized to bring the playground to life again.

It has been nearly a year since the wooden playground was torn down, and now the school’s PTO has formed a committee that has plans for a blue plastic playground on the front side of the school, just south of the multipurpose room.

Seth Zlotocha, the playground committee chairman, said the committee has surveyed parents and staff, and kindergarten and physical education teachers have also participated in the work of envisioning a new playground. Zlotocha said all of the equipment heights were kept at levels appropriate for kindergartners, and the design optimizes open space around the main structure for kids to run around.

“At one point I think (physical education teacher) Ms. (Pam) Swanson said we need equipment for running, jumping, pulling, throwing, climbing and hanging,” he said. “That really set the agenda. We really wanted to provide everything and make the best use of the space.”

The new playground design features three bigger slides, whereas the old playground featured one high slide and one low slide. Teachers said kids frequently waited in lines for the old slide, leading to pushing and other safety concerns.

The playground will also be more accessible to special needs students, featuring rubberized surfaces and low level play equipment.

The playground is estimated to cost about $50,000, not including site work, blacktopping and fencing. Whitefish Bay School District Business Manager Shawn Yde said the district is contributing $30,000 in contingency funds from the referendum, and the district may also have funds available for site work and fencing.

Zlotocha said the committee hopes to raise the remaining money through fundraising. The group plans to start with businesses and other large donors, and if more funds are still needed, they will have individual parents take up a fundraising effort in the future.

The group hopes to have the money in hand by the end of this school year, with the goal of beginning construction by June or July.