Danbury Playground Project Raises Nearly $29,000 of $150,000 Goal

DANBURY, CT. — Pembroke School is continuing its fundraising efforts to build the district’s first accessible playground for students and to date has raised $28,700 toward its goal of $150,000.

The improved construction plans will replace an existing playground with limited features for
students with disabilities. The new design will feature American with Disabilities Act-
approved equipment, such as wide bridges and equipment that is lower to the ground. It is
projected that with the upcoming fundraisers, the project will have collected $100,000 by May.

On April 30, The Golf Club at Oxford Greens in Oxford will host a golf outing open to the
public with all proceeds to be donated to the playground. Cartus, Inc. in Danbury recently hosted
a corporate lunch to present the project to employees and will raised employee contributions.
Danbury restaurants, Hummus & Pita Co. on Federal Road and McDonalds on Padanaram Road,
also participated in fundraising events in February. Teachers from Pembroke worked behind
counters and greeted customers at McDonald’s McTeacher event to raise $940; Hummus & Pita
raised $342.

“This project has been embraced by our school wide population, not just Pembroke. We have
other schools that have done fundraising for us,” said fundraising coordinator and Pembroke
special education teacher Leigh Viviano said in a release.

Other schools in the district, as well as members of the community, are working together to
support the construction of the Pembroke Playground. The athletic department at Danbury High
School allowed Pembroke to collect donations at home football games, while King Street
Intermediate raised $100 from bottle deposits. Elementary schools, Stadley Rough and Park
Avenue, have also donated: The Kindness and Compassion Club at Stadley Rough donated $300,
while Park Avenue established a penny collection, “Pennies for Pembroke.” A Ridgefield
elementary school recently donated $1,000.

The accessible playground will be open to all schools and surrounding towns to utilize during non-school hours.