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In this article, Rylie Revercomb covers Highland's new immersive and inclusive playground.
Early Learning Program Playground
Early Learning Program Playground
By: Rylie Revercomb
By: Rylie Revercomb
One of the most relevant topics in our city right now is playgrounds. The problem connects to Grants Pass’ seemingly ever-growing homeless population. Additionally, people want trash out of parks, claiming that it makes public spaces more dangerous for their kids. Parks that were once clean are now cluttered with litter-- some of it being possibly detrimental to kids’ health, such as used and rusty needles. Moving on to better playground-related news, a new playground has opened up, and it is a playground that’s accessible for all! This new playground is in the backyard of Grants Pass’ very own Highland Elementary, and has various features that are fun for kids of all ages and abilities. The school district claims that the new playground aims to build community and provide support for families-- specifically families in the Early Learning Program.
So, what does the playground feature, making it safe and fun for everyone? Well, an article by Maximus Osburn on KOBI 5 News says that the new park “features an ADA accessible rubber mat surface, interactive music instruments, slides, and more. The early learning program’s goal is to give preschool kids a strong foundation before kindergarten.” For those who do not know, ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act. This means that the new playground has a mat that is smoother, and therefore wheelchair and mobility aid accessible. Speaking of accessibility, while the playground is on school grounds, it is actually not open during school hours (likely to keep strangers off of school property), but it is open during both weekdays and weekends from 4 PM to 10 PM. This allows more than just Highland Elementary students to access the playground, and still keeps the kids safe during school hours. It’s a win-win!
Image By: Kobi5
Accessibility is not the only benefit of having a new playground, though. The main importance in having a playground is, of course, giving kids an area to let their creativity roam and to give them a safe space where they can also learn. In an interview with KOBI 5 News, the program’s early childhood coordinator, Annie Blanchard, stated, “They’re learning through play. So they’re developing language, they’re developing social skills, learning how to problem solve, they’re being creative… So, it really is through play that we’re learning how to navigate the world.” The program believes that play is one of the most vital parts of a child's brain development. Creativity is key! This isn’t just a belief that people in our community have-- it is a scientifically proven fact.
According to multiple sources, most notably Medium, an official NASA study in 1968 found that 98% of the children that they tested were creative geniuses. They decided to stick with these so-called geniuses, doing check-ups throughout their life-- and slowly, as the children grew up, those genius levels continued to drop. By the end of the experiment, only 2% of the original children were still classified as creative geniuses by the time they reached adulthood. The study shows that we are all born with a creative, genius spark that is slowly smothered as time ticks by. Why is this? Because school teaches kids to think inside the box, not outside. That’s why creativity is so important. Without creativity, we cannot come up with new and different solutions to complex problems. That is why something as simple as a playground can stimulate creativity and help kids learn and grow in ways that traditional learning in classrooms cannot.
But what are teachers thinking about this? Facts can only say so much when they are on a piece of paper, and potentially accessible programs can seem good until they are set in motion. In an interview with Stephannie Revercomb, a third-grade teacher at Highland Elementary, said she thinks the new playground will benefit children at school and in our community. She said, “I appreciated the musical components that are available to students which… allows for students to play alongside other students when they cannot or don’t want to play on the structure.” She added, “My students enjoyed: the spinning equipment and the trees with the net.” So, the science checks out! With real feedback from Highland students and teachers, it seems that the new accessible playground really is fun for all. Ms. Revercomb also mentioned that she appreciated the easy entry for all students, and how the ground surface is a good choice because it is softer and safer for students playing on the structure. Of course, the most important part of all of this is the feedback from the kids, and they seem to love it.
Image By: Grants Pass School District 7
The playground’s grand opening might have been in Feb. 2025, but this playground really has not gotten the attention that it deserves. With so many big events happening in our community, it is sometimes hard to take everything down to a smaller level and see the good things that are happening just out of view. While a playground might not seem like the most important project our town could be involved in, it really provides kids with a safe area to play, an opportunity to learn in the way they are intended to, and a chance to have fun and play with kids their own age. If you, or anyone you know, has a chance…then take your kids to visit Highland Elementary’s newest playground. After all, creativity and fun are the best ways to help your child grow into the person you want them to be.
Sources:
Sources:
Interview with Stephannie Revercomb
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