The City of Irving Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will install new replacement playgrounds at Johnston and Lively elementary schools.
While the playgrounds are on school property, they serve the students during the school day and area residents on weekends, before and after school, and during the summer.
The $700,000 project is a collaboration of the city’s CIP and Parks and Recreation departments, in tandem with the Irving Independent School District. The nearly 20-year-old playgrounds have surpassed their life cycle.
During the design phase of the projects, city staff collaborated with school administrators, teachers and students. At each school, students were invited to select which playground design they preferred: traditional or innovative. Participating students were asked by their teacher to present a persuasive argument for each option. The students then took a vote and came to a nearly unanimous decision at each school.
Johnston Elementary students chose the traditional route, which features a slide, climbing equipment and a stairway or ladder entry into the play area. Students at Lively chose the innovative route, which features a variety of animal-shaped climbing objects, as well as imaginative entry routes into the playground.
Both playgrounds will feature Americans with Disabilities Act standards, bright colorful surroundings and shade canopies integrated into the equipment. New benches, picnic tables and drinking fountains also will be installed.
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