Wheelchair accessible playground built in Mendota Heights
A crew of volunteers helped assemble the new equipment.
Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer
More than 150 volunteers gathered at Somerset Heights Elementary in late July and early August to help build a playground for children of all abilities. It was supposed to be built next year after extensive fundraising efforts but everything changed in April when an anonymous donor dubbed the “fairy godmother” pledged $200,000 to make it a reality this summer.
The new playground is designed to be welcoming to kids with a broad range of physical, psychological, developmental and intellectual abilities. It’s set on a rubberized base rather than wood chips as is commonly found at other playgrounds. It features multiple wheelchair accessible ramps, an accessible swing, in-ground merry-go-round, a slide with a wheelchair transfer station, sensory stations, and a “communication board” with visuals that help less- or non-verbal children indicate what they want to do.
The call to replace the previous 20-year-old playground came early this year from a group of parents at the school who have children with conditions that affect their mobility. The school quickly got on board with the idea and allowed its students to vote on two playground designs. Donations and fundraising efforts kicked off shortly after.
To chip away at the $300,000 price tag, students set up lemonade stands, ran a coin drive, and some even shook out their piggy banks for a few dollars to give. Ultimately, about $35,000 was secured, and in May state legislators passed a bill allocating $200,000 for playground infrastructure upgrades at local schools in four districts, including ISD 197, which encompasses Somerset. The elementary school received half of that funding, and all that was left was for the fairy godmother to sweep in to make the children’s wish come true. The old playground equipment will be donated to a community in Central America or Africa.
Among the workforce were community members, school staff, families from the school, and the Two Rivers High School football team. Tasks included everything from equipment assembly to digging, heavy lifting and installation.
“Our aim at Somerset is to be inclusive of all our students and ensure they feel like they belong,” said Somerset Elementary Principal Libby Huettl in a statement. “We’ve created ways to do that inside, but when we go outside for recess, many students with physical and cognitive disabilities aren’t able to access our playground. This new playground helps those students feel included, seen, and supported by their community.”
Anne St. Martin, a project organizer and parent of a Somerset student with mobility challenges, said, “It’s wonderful that our community said yes to these kids. There are many things that kids with disabilities can’t participate in, so finding ways to involve them in the community is crucial. Being able to join in recess and experience the social-emotional benefits of playing with friends is so important. The community stepped up big time, and we’re so grateful.”
According to ISD 197, this is the fifth fully inclusive playground at a Minnesota school.
“By law, public schools in the state must meet ADA compliance, but this could be as minimal as cutting an entryway to a curb to provide access to a wood chip playground,” said Sara Blair, ISD 197 communications manager. “Such accommodations do not fully meet the needs of all children with disabilities.”
The other schools with fully inclusive playgrounds are Glen Lake Elementary in Hopkins, Lake Elmo Elementary School in Lake Elmo, Duluth-Congdon Elementary School in Duluth, and Dowling Elementary School in Minneapolis. A few public playgrounds that meet the criteria include Madison’s Playground in Woodbury and Woodhaven Playground in Eagan.
A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 28, at the school, 1355 Dodd Rd., Mendota Heights. The ceremony, like the playground itself, is open to the public.
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