Schools
Somerville To Break Ground On City's First Inclusive Playground
The project comes after years of advocacy from families, educators and community members who pushed for improvements to the schoolyard.
SOMERVILLE, MA — Community members are invited to attend a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, June 15, at 3:30 p.m. to celebrate the start of renovations that will transform the Kennedy Schoolyard into Somerville's first inclusive playground.
The ceremony will take place at the John F. Kennedy School, located at 5 Cherry St. The project will expand the existing Cherry Street playground by roughly one-third and feature equipment that is fully accessible to children of all physical abilities.
The project comes after years of advocacy from families, educators and community members who pushed for improvements to the schoolyard and greater accessibility in Somerville's public play spaces.
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“As someone who has organized the community to advocate for a schoolyard project, I’m ecstatic to see the Kennedy School Community getting the schoolyard they deserve,” Mayor Jake Wilson said. “Kids have the right to be kids, and that means having access to spaces where children of every ability can play and participate equally.”
The final design was shaped through a community engagement process led by the city's Public Space and Urban Forestry Division. Students, teachers, parents, caregivers and advocacy groups, including the Special Education Parent Advisory Council and the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities, provided input on the project.
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City officials said the project is intended to create a space where children of all abilities can play together. Plans include accessible play equipment and other features designed to accommodate a wide range of physical, sensory and developmental needs.
Construction is scheduled to begin this month and will take place over two phases during the next two years. City officials said the first phase will focus on expanding and rebuilding the playground, with additional improvements planned in future stages of the project.
“This is a major milestone for the Somerville community,” Wilson said. “I’m grateful to the families, educators, advocates and staff who helped bring this vision forward.”
The Kennedy School was selected for the project in part because it hosts the district's SEEK and SKIP programs, which serve students with diverse learning needs. City officials have said the new playground will help ensure students of all abilities have access to the same opportunities for recreation and play.
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