New 2D Playground At Sherman School Transforms Blacktop

FAIRFIELD, CT— A dream to have a “two-dimensional” playground has come true at Roger Sherman Elementary School, thanks to the success of a fundraising campaign among parents and the community.

The initiative, originally sparked by parent Shawn Hood, came in response to the 2019 closure of playgrounds following concerns about contamination.

The Fairfield school district closed playgrounds after three elementary schools — Jennings, Mill Hill and Riverfield — tested above residential standards for contamination following an investigation into illegal dumping connected to the town public works yard and the contractor hired to run that facility.

“With my oldest starting kindergarten, this was devastating,” remembered Hood, who became active in the PTA and decided to focus on changes to help the community.

Since the children would be confined to the blacktop for a period, Hood researched various companies that installed 2D playgrounds, meeting with representatives from EduMarking in order to learn about the options.

“The project grew from there,” she said.

EduMarking is a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company that installs thermoplastic playground surfaces on school blacktop play areas.

“When COVID hit, this project again really resonated with me,” Hood said. “The blacktop was part of the school solution for cohorting.”

That’s when the fundraising project began through the PTA, with a $23,500 goal set.

“I’m not sure that everyone realized that due to COVID, school recess was impacted,” Hood said. “As a first grader, my daughter only had two days a week where she was allowed to use the playground.”

“The other days she would be sectioned off to a part of the blacktop,” she said.

Hood credited the PTA’s new fundraising chair, Melissa DiNardo, with doing great work to get the project moving, as well as James Zavodjancik, executive director of instruction, curriculum and assessment for the school district, for his help in moving the project forward.

“Now more than ever, it’s important to give these kids a chance to play,” Hood said, noting they were particularly proud of the sensory paths that had been installed on the colorful new 2D playground.

Other items include obstacle course-like challenges, a colorful Shoots & Ladders-type game board, and some old standards, like a four-square court.

Hood said the students will now have more opportunities for collaborative play, also noting that research supports the importance of physical activity.

“By taking this project forward,” she said, “we could quickly give our students joy throughout the day.”