Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and Grants Bring New Playgrounds to 23 Elementary Schools

In the Winston-Salem Journal, reporter Arika Herron writes about new playgrounds coming to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County elementary schools. Photographer Lauren Carroll took the pictures.

Here is an excerpt:

When Smith Farm Elementary School opened in 2013, it did so without a playground — or any outside activity equipment to speak of.

“It was actually kind of fun to watch them make do with very little, having no playground and still come up with inventive, fun, collaborative games to play,” said Amy Hobbs, the Smith Farm PTA’s playground chair. “I know they’ll be so excited to translate those activities to playground structures once they’re installed.”

The PTA worked for the last several years to raise enough money to purchase a playground for the school. But it turns out playgrounds are expensive and raising money is difficult.

In stepped the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and two grants worth nearly $1 million.

“This is a game changer for the kids in our Title I schools and for the families who live around these schools,” said Darrell Walker, assistant superintendent of operations for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

The grants — part of a larger $40 million commitment the trust made to supporting children from low-income families — will provide a playground, not only for Smith Farm, but for 23 low-income schools throughout the district. And those playgrounds won’t just be open to students at those schools, but to any children in the school community. As part of the grant conditions, the school system agreed to open its grounds to allow the play areas to serve the entire neighborhood.

“The children deserve it, but most of all the community deserves it,” said Joe Crocker, director of the trust’s poor and needy division, which awarded the grants.

Each of the 23 schools is receiving a playground specially designed for young children, ages 0-5. Most school playgrounds are made for older students. Some schools — those that either didn’t have a playground for older children or that had one in poor condition — will also receive playgrounds designed for that age group. Some schools are having walking tracks installed as well.

For the rest of the story, go to Winston-Salem Journal