New Playground To Serve Alpharetta's Special Needs Population

ALPHARETTA, GA -- It is common for city governments to work with their local schools to engage children in recreation programs and afterschool enrichment. It is less common for a city to partner with an elementary school to overhaul their playground as a partnership that will benefit both the children at the school as well as the community at large. This is exactly what is happening between Alpharetta Elementary School and the City of Alpharetta.

Alpharetta Elementary is unique in that students with mental and physical disabilities make up approximately 24 percent of the student population. In the past, this population of students has had an outdoor area that wasn’t able to meet their physical needs and was in great need of repair.

After having some discussions with a teacher at the school and a local non-profit organization, North Metro Miracle League’s executive director, City of Alpharetta Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services director Morgan Rodgers had an idea that would result in a beautiful collaborative effort.

“The partnership between the city, the Fulton County Board of Education, Resurgens Foundation, North Metro Miracle League and Northside Hospital is a model in how corporations, non-profits and local government can work together to improve the lives of everyone in the community," Rodgers said.

The City of Alpharetta’s parks team has been hard at work creating a new accessible playground complete with a wheelchair adaptive swing, upgraded trail surface complete with sensory environments and improved landscaping which provides a safer and inclusive experience.

“This park is a perfect setting to bring young children together, and whatever challenges or differences may exist, will rapidly fade away in the fun, the games and new friendships," North Metro Miracle League Executive Director John McLaughlin said. This new playground takes accessibility to an entirely new level and it is a great addition to Alpharetta’s commitment to the entire community."

Together, the school and the city have entered into a 10-year agreement that will allow the playground to be used by the community when the school is not in operation. Alpharetta Elementary School’s playground is open to the public starting at 4 p.m. on school days and through the weekend for the community to use as a public park space with full access to the park’s amenities.

“We ask the community to be respectful of the shared space and the park’s hours so students with varying abilities will have this play space to enjoy for years to come,” Alpharetta Elementary School Principal Kathleen Stamper said. “It has been a dream to be able to partner with the City of Alpharetta to provide a beautiful park for our students, families and community to enjoy. I have loved seeing everyone get great use out of the courts, the track and the playground.”