New playgrounds complement program for at-risk youth

When the Clemson Road Child Development Program in Richland School District Two received stimulus funding this year, the program’s lead teacher, Debbie Brady, was excited to learn that the district and Title I Coordinator, Dr. Marsha Moseley, had great ideas on how to use it. The funding opened the door to improving the play areas at five of the program’s nine sites across the district. Keels Elementary School and Windsor Elementary School were first on the list.

“Our child development curriculum requires that our students interact with a variety of materials at various learning centers inside and outside the classroom,” explains Brady.

The Clemson Road Child Development Program, which is Title I and state-funded, is for four- and five-year-old preschoolers who qualify for the program based on need. The children may be dealing with a lack of developmental readiness or are from families struggling with poverty and other environmental factors.

“To better serve our students, we needed age-appropriate play equipment, as well as pieces that would challenge physical fitness and enhance typical motor skills like balance, climbing and sliding,” says Brady.

She and her staff were familiar with several of the Landscape Structures™ products, such as interactive reach panels and Mobius Climbers®. “General Recreation had exactly what we wanted,” she adds. “The panels are perfect. They offer sensory options to enhance our curriculum.”

The new play areas also are located directly outside the classroom. This is an ideal arrangement so that children can move freely and safely to and from activities.

“Working with Gerald Hitch was easy and great,” says Brady. “He developed the best plans based on our preferences and budget. We’ve received nothing but positive feedback from our teachers and students this school year!”

To learn more, contact Gerald Hitch, General Recreation’s Regional Sales Consultant, at 866-304-1062 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it