Playgrounds Open At Barlow Mountain And Ridgebury Elementary Schools

**News Release Submitted from Town of Ridgefield**

Aug. 30, 2024

Two schools! Two new playgrounds!

On Monday, Barlow Mountain and Ridgebury Elementary families gathered with elected officials and town employees for back-to-back ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new accessible playgrounds. At both schools, Superintendent Dr. Susie Da Silva explained to the assembled young students that now their playgrounds will be accessible for all Ridgefield Public School students. She encouraged the public to see the new playgrounds after school or on the weekends.

First, Barlow Mountain Elementary Principal Rebecca Laus snipped the ribbon at her school with Bobby the Bobcat mascot, and the BMES community on hand. Then, Ridgebury Principal Mary Scalise opened up her playground. Soon students were swinging, sliding, and climbing on the Ridgebury playground.

State Representative Aimee Berger-Girvalo addressed the Ridgebury audience of staff and families by reminding them that she was a former parent and Ridgefield Intensive Special Education (RISE) paraeducator at Ridgebury. She explained that this day was particularly special because in her tenure some of the students receiving RISE services couldn’t play on some of the equipment. Ms. Berger-Girvalo, RPS Assistant Superintendent for Special Services Dr. Elizabeth Hannaway, and their teams earned recognition for their hard work receiving grants to support the project.

Ridgefield’s Director of Public Works and his team deserve credit for completing the Ridgebury playground over the summer and the Barlow Mountain playground by the end of this week. Plans for a new playground at Scotland Elementary are already drawn up, with another ribbon-cutting expected in October. Branchville Elementary completed a new accessible playground with support from their PTA last year.

The RPS playgrounds, school parking lots, and grounds are maintained by the Town of Ridgefield in collaboration with District Leadership. Selectperson Rudy Marconi said, “This week's ribbon cuttings exemplify what our town and schools can accomplish together and the community’s commitment to inclusivity. Thank you to all that made this happen.”