A student-led dream for a playground for grades 3-5 will now materialize thanks to a special partnership between parents, school administration and the Board of Trustees.
The conversation regarding a need for a special area just for third through fifth-graders began earlier in the school year when students took an inventory of different activities available during break time. Students began to ask questions and search for ideas on how to get the exercise they were missing without a dedicated playground.
Earlier in the 2014-15 school year, the ELA-8 Tiger Pride parent organization made strides to help expand play options in the meantime with a large donation of age-appropriate playground equipment including hula hoops, kick balls, lemon skips and jump ropes.
The three decision-making bodies on campus came to a consensus to move forward following a very articulate student-led presentation. A group of six students representing grades 3-5 approached the Board of Trustees, Tiger Pride, and the One School group, which is comprised of administrators from each school division at Darlington, to demonstrate a need for a playground.
“[The students] were well-prepared, confident and convincing,” said Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Linda (Grizzard) Owens (‘79). “They showed us the need for the new playground, satisfied the need with research and then painted a clear vision of the results of satisfying the need.”
While the area around the Drummond-Johnson Amphitheater at Thatcher Hall provides a beautiful, flat grassy area to play, it is not able to give the same level of physical activity as a dedicated play area. Beyond wall ball, four square, and a classic game of tag, there are few choices for the older students to help them get the recommended amount of exercise they need.
Aiding in moving forward the initiative was a sum of money already set aside for a special project. Tiger Pride had raised money to put in a new air conditioning system in Tiger Hall on the Thornwood campus. After priorities shifted following ELA-4's relocation to Cave Spring Road, the funds remained untapped.
"We wanted to honor the initial intent for the gymnasium and recreation, and thought it would be a great application to use it towards new playground equipment," said Jennifer Scott, ELA-8 Tiger Pride president.
The need for more and varied activities for students hit close to home for Jennifer and husband Ryland, who are parents to fourth-grade triplets at Darlington.
ELA-8 Director Hope Jones and ELA-8 Dean of Students Jennifer (Brewster) Helbing ('98) facilitated the process of gathering information for the new project through the students, forming focus groups and helping the students to brainstorm different solutions and how to state their case for a new play area.
“They are the ones that are going to have the answers for what they need and enjoy based on their developing interests,” said Helbing. “We really let them go and run with it.”
Faculty and administration were called on to help choose 36 students for the third, fourth and fifth-grade focus groups. Across the board, commonalities for needs and wants were noted, echoing parents’ concerns as well. From the larger pool, six students were chosen to lead the research on playground equipment and present their findings to the appropriate decision-making entities.
Each of the six student leaders was appointed to a particular role within the group, helping each other in some way by chipping in whenever they could—whether it be with writing, using the technology, and/or researching a variety of sources. Students included third-graders Tommy Cowan and Mary Blair Fuller, fourth-graders Connor Brown and Christa Twyman, and fifth-graders Brock Lignell and Sarah Tunnell.
“I am new to Darlington, so one of the things we did was collect information about my old playground and what I liked most about it,” said Lignell.
Many students recall the existence of two playgrounds on the Thornwood campus that were made available to corresponding age groups.
"For Darlington students, it was a rite of passage to be on the purple playground when you got to third grade,” said Scott. “With the move, that was lost.”
When it came to concerns and ideas, there was little that was left out of the thinking and planning processes for the student leaders.
“Online, we researched playground options, and got doctors’ and parents’ opinions about why our age group needs a playground,” said Tunnell.
When all was complete, the students had developed an in-depth presentation that included facts, figures, photographs, diagrams and other ways to explain the situation and solution. The multimedia report also included ideas for the new playground, like climbing walls, a spring pod, a jungle gym and a net tunnel.
“We looked at what the problems are now, and how they could be better,” said Twyman.
The student presenters cited crowded outdoor areas, lack of outdoor restroom facilities, a distance to snack machines, automobile traffic, and locked doors as inconveniences and opportunities for growth. They also identified pros and cons of the current play spaces, and existing features that could be employed with a new structure.
“My own personal ideas were plans that leaned towards multiple exits on the playground equipment—if you are playing tag, you can get cornered,” said Lignell.
The third- through fifth-grade playground project will receive approximately $50,000 from Tiger Pride, another $25,000 from the school, and the remainder of the balance from the Board of Trustees.
Owens and many of her fellow trustees have stepped up to the plate to help supplement the cost of the project.
“Any good presentation makes you want to answer the need,” she said. “In fact, I would have felt like I had missed out if I weren’t able to give to this project.”
The newest addition to Darlington’s nearly 500-acre campus will include state-of-the-art playground structures and a vast amount of additional green space. Moving forward, the school will continue to seek competitive quotes for playground equipment, landscaping and hardscapes. According to the current schedule, the estimated completion date for the new playground is set for summer 2015.
“Beyond fulfilling a need, the task gave this group of students something positive to advocate for—and allowed them to learn how to advocate for themselves,” said Scott. "These kids will also get to feel the spotlight and attention in a meaningful way from the surrounding Community in a way that has enjoyment for them. It is a physical manifestation of the care of their school family."
Beyond the collaboration that was seen in the work of the Lower School student leaders and their presentation, the teamwork principle also guided the parents, trustees and administration who help make Darlington's day-to-day and strategic planning decisions.
“I believe the importance of this decision is the way it demonstrates the success the school can achieve when [we] all work together,” said Owens.
For more information about Darlington’s ELA-8 division and the new playground, contact Jennifer Helbing at jhelbing@darlingtonschool.org.
