Grant helps fund new playground

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat A new playground area was funded through a cooperative effort by a Missouri Department of Natural Resources Playground Scrap Material Grant and the Portageville Board of Education at the Portageville Elementary School. A second playground was also created for the school’s prekindergarten program and can be seen in the background at right.

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Recess is always important to youngsters, but at the Portageville Elementary School, recess is now even better.

Thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and additional funding from the Portageville School Board, two new playgrounds were added this school year. There is a new play area for students in kindergarten through fifth grade and an enlarged and enclosed playground for the school’s expanded prekindergarten program.

Portageville principal Kim Taylor said she spent about a month putting the proposal together for the DNR’s Playground Scrap Tire Material Grant in the spring of 2020. She wrote about the need to replace the playground’s surface.

The pea gravel under the equipment was a constant source of student injuries, Taylor explained. There were skinned knees and elbows and when the youngest students were on the playground, teachers worried about them swallowing stones.

Also an improved surface would enable students in wheelchairs or using walkers to join their classmates during recess, Taylor wrote in her grant application.

In the fall of 2020, word was received of the grant’s approval, then like so many other things the arrival of COVID slowed plans down. That additional time enabled Taylor to expand her vision of improving the school’s playground.

“I didn’t realize there was so much involved when you are planning a playground,” Taylor said.

The DNR grant funded a playground surface made entirely from recycled Missouri tires. Taylor opted for 4-by-4 foot square rubber tiles.

Working with a St. Louis company, Taylor began by choosing the playground layout. After finding the perfect design within the budgeted funds, Taylor chose the color of the rubber tiles and even added tiles embedded with a hopscotch design offering students more play options.

While they waited for construction to begin, Taylor and the teachers used the time to talk with students about recycling. Representatives from the Bootheel Solid Waste Management introduced students to the recycling process even showing them ways to turn things like newspaper into new products.

Students also kept an eye out for the playground improvements.

First the rubber tiles arrived. Eight months later the playground equipment came in and the work began to create the new play areas.

“It was a process, but it was well-worth it in the end because we’ve needed more playground equipment on our playground for a while now,” Taylor said.

Walking across the new playground area, Taylor still marvels about the improvements. The two-inch rubber mats sit on two inches of shock absorption material.

“It is pretty cool how it works. You can actually walk on it and it gives,” Taylor said. “There has been a big reduction in accidents. That has been a blessing.”

Next spring Taylor said she hopes to organize a day where parents or other relatives can join students on the playground to see the improvements. Meanwhile, the principal said, students are enjoying their new spaces every recess.

“The students love our new playgrounds. They have been so excited to be able to use them and to try new things,” Taylor said.

When the bell announces recess, youngsters eagerly head to the new play areas featuring slides, climbing areas and even musical instruments.

Jaya Jackson and Amir Blacksure gave the slide their top ratings. Amir assured the slide was fast.

Evie Brown said her favorite was the climbing wall but added she likes all of the new playground area, explaining, “It’s more fun.”

And, they don’t miss the skinned knees either.