Maple School's All-Abilities Playground In Northbrook Is Complete

NORTHBROOK, IL—Although it has been a work in progress, Maple School's all-abilities playground is officially finished, according to a spokesperson for the Northbrook-Glenview School District 30.

The project has taken two years to complete and made possible thanks to the vision of the Maple School All Abilities Playground Fundraising Committee and the Maple PTO, district officials said.

From the very beginning, the goal for the project was simple: to create a fun and safe playground where middle school youth of all abilities can have social interaction in a space which promotes play, exercise, and learning, as they interact with one another.

"Many community members were curious as to why middle school students would still want or need a playground. When the concept of a new building for Maple School was initiated, there was no playground/park in the plans," Beth Preis, publicity coordinator for the school district, said in a news release. "Later, district administrators began asking the students what they felt was one of the most important things to have at the new school. To everyone's surprise, many of the students responded, 'We want a playground.'"

From there, the district moved forward on plans to build a playground at the new Maple School that was most conducive to student social, emotional, and physical health. During a meeting of the Maple Playground Committee and PTO, administrators asked student council members to find out what types of equipment they envisioned in their playground space.

According to district officials, the kids provided valuable and thoughtful input. After much discussion, they decided they wanted a place where every student would have a place to interact together, regardless of physical abilities.

Prior to completion, several equipment pieces were tested by Maple School and North Suburban Special Education District (NSSED) students and staff. Replacing the traditional wood chips with a “poured-in-place surface” creates an accessible playground, district officials said.

Funding for the playground was made possibly by the Maple School PTO along with the Wescott and Willowbrook PTOs. According to the school district, the PTOs held several successful fundraisers to make the playground a reality.

The initial vision, planning and fundraising has since paid off.

"All students for generations to come will benefit from this all-abilities playground!" Preis said.