Heights Parents Band Together for Safer School Playgrounds

Hasbrouck Heights parents are banding together in the hopes that the new playgrounds planned for both elementary schools will meet the safety needs of their children.

Euclid School parent and PTA member Kristen Schaeffer told the Board of Education members Thursday night she started an online petition which had received five dozen signatures in a few hours in support of a rubberized surface which is said to be safer and would prevent injuries. By end of day Thursday the petition had 78 signatures.

Schaeffer suggested that the Board had been advised and may have already made a decision to go with black top surface but Board of Education President Joseph Rinke said the board has yet to make any decision and is still weighing all options.

Rinke said the rubberized surface has never been "off the table."

"It's still in discussion and we are looking at different materials and weighing our options," said Rinke.

Among the challenges the Board faces is cost. Board member Mark Stefanelli said he hopes to arrange for a presentation of the different materials they can explore along with their costs to help them determine what would be best for the playgrounds

Board member Mark Nazzaro told the parents that the first step has to be the milling and repaving of the surface which will have to be done regardless. He said the Board plans to reach out to the Borough to see if they can team up with them on any planned repaving projects it may have in order to save on costs.

Another concern regarding rubberized surfaces is the use of the playgrounds. Rubberized material would prevent the playground from being used for basketball, bike riding or skateboarding, explained Dina Messery, business administrator.

However parent Lisa Castellano suggested the needs of the school children should come first and the use of the playground should be based on activity during the school day, not for recreational activities after school.

Schaeffer suggested she is willing to help raise money so the school playgrounds could have the safer surface.

"I am pushing to get this done. It's not me. It's parent after parent after parent," she told the Board.

"Ask the nurse at Euclid. On average there are 10 to 12 students getting scrapes and bumps," she said regarding the playgrounds' current conditions.

The playgrounds have been said to be long overdue for new surfacing and new fencing. The Board began taking steps to have the playgrounds redone last summer.

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