The ADA Playground Project is an initiative to supply schools with “adaptive playground equipment,” with the intention of making elementary school playgrounds a more inclusive space for children with physical disabilities for every public elementary playground in the AMA ESD’s service area (Alpena, Montmorency, and Alcona counties).

AMA ESD’s coverage area includes more than a half dozen elementary schools.

The ADA Playground Project was designed to be executed in two distinct phases:

∫ Phase one of the project involves purchasing and installing of the adaptive playground equipment in three sites at Alcona, Hillman, and Atlanta elementary schools.

Courtesy Photo This photo provided by AMA ESD Superintendent Justin Gluesing shows the new playground provided by the ADA Playground Project at Hillman Elementary School.

∫ Phase two of the project involves purchasing and installing of the adaptive playground equipment in six sites at Alpena elementary schools.

Examples of adaptive playground equipment include ADA accessible picnic tables, wheelchair and adaptive swings, sensory tables and panels and balance equipment.

The total cost of the project is estimated to cost $233,000, with the AMA ESD Board of Education agreeing to pay “up to 50% of the cost of the total playground project,” with the remainder of the project must be paid for through funding partners.

The AMA ESD has already raised $80,000 after donations from several local partners, including The Besser Foundation, First Federal Legacy Foundation, the Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan, Dean Transportation, and Alpena Rotary.

“Our communities are very generous,” AMA ESD Superintendent Justin Gluesing said regarding donor’s responses to the ADA playground project. “The foundations rallied around it and are bringing this project to fruition.”

At a meeting of the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education last month, Gluesing provided an overview and update on the project. During his presentation to the board, Gluesing showed photos of newly installed playground equipment at Pied Piper School, which included a mix of adaptive and traditional playground equipment, so all students could have access to it.

Gluesing said while visiting an APS playground over the summer he saw a student in a wheelchair having some trouble using some of the equipment. That prompted Gluesing to AMA ESD board members about spending some money to update the playgrounds at the service district’s campuses.

Phase one of the project is completely funded and was scheduled to be completed this summer, but has been completed ahead of schedule.

Phase two of the project is still waiting on some additional funding and officials hope the project is by the summer of 2024.

“We have two grant applications that we are waiting on,” Gluesing said in an email on the current status of funding for phase two. “We won’t know until late summer/fall, but I am confident we will have the funds.”