Pearson School celebrates its first playground

WINSTED — In its 97-year history, Pearson Middle School has never had a playground.

The closest playground to Pearson is at Hinsdale School, which closed back in 2016. Its equipment is dilapidated.

During the course of this year, the Winchester School District raised $68,000 to construct a playground for students at Pearson, which houses the district’s third- to sixth-grade students.

Months of fundraising paid off. The district held a ribbon cutting celebration for the new playground on Friday, Oct. 12.

Community officials were present at the event, along with donors and Pearson students, who were all eager for the ceremony to end so they could have fun on the playground.

The playground was constructed by Creative Recreation of Newington.

The equipment is made with slip-resistant safety surfaces.

The central apparatus is 24 feet tall and includes two floors with two slides on each floor.

There is also a maypole separate from the main apparatus, where children can swing.

“This is much different from the playground sets I grew up with, which were made out of wood,” Board of Education President Doug Pfenninger said in an interview before the event. “As long as the playground is safe for children, it’s all good with me. This playground is built to last a long time.”

School District Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley said that up to 70 students can play on the playground at one time.

“We wanted to make sure that this playground can hold up to one grade for each recess,” Brady-Shanley said. “Physical activity and socialization are vitally important to the development of children. This playground provides much-needed activity and social opportunities for children.”

 

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