Highlands Elementary School in Appleton held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new all inclusive playground, May 6, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — An inclusive playground two years in the making is now ready for students in Appleton.
Highlands Elementary School held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new playground Monday.
It includes swings with high backs and harness/seatbelt for students who have trouble maintaining an upright seated position, wheelchair-accessible play structures where a child in a wheelchair can either roll directly onto or easily transfer out of their chair, imaginative play opportunities that are at the height of children in wheelchairs and activity/sensory panels for students who have autism or different sensory needs.
Associate Principal David Nitka says it was important to have a playground that all students can use. Students across the Appleton Area School District with varying disabilities are bussed to Highlands for their unique programming, including Early Childhood students.
“It’s super important. We’re a very diverse building, very diverse district, some of the kids are bused from different sites here. It was really important for us to be able to meet the needs of all our students,” Nitka said.
Phase II of the playground project is to install rubber surface around the playground and an accessible slide. The school hopes to reach its $65,000 fundraising goal with its Fun Run event next week.
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