By Caroline Lanni, Reporter
All you hear once that bell rings are kids’ feet as they run to their favorite part of the school to play – it’s the best time of the day – it’s recess.
At Houghton Elementary School their playground is in the process of getting an update.
Stacia Hemphill, a nine-year resident of Sterling and a parent of one child who attends Houghton Elementary School, has brought this playground update to the surface.
Hemphill said that this process of updating the playground has been an ongoing effort by parents for about three years.
The school was planning on this playground update happening beforehand, but funds kept falling through, she said.
“I personally went to the Town and asked what the process was to do a citizen’s request after I saw the citizen’s requests for the tennis courts,” said Hemphill.
Hemphill and Houghton Elementary School Principal Tony Cipro, recently met with the contractor and went over their initial plans such as pricing and structure of the new playground.
The projected price was approved at this year’s Town Meeting for $130,000 to be spent on the new playground.
Mike Walsh, gym teacher, and Cipro are looking over the sketch of the playground that the vendor [Little Tikes] made for them, said Hemphill, and then their deadline is scheduled for the beginning of December 2021 to have everything approved.
Once the sketch is approved in December 2021 the playground will be installed next summer over the course of six weeks.
Hemphill said the playground they have now was built in 1996 and it’s very old and outdated.
“It needs to cater to all students who have disabilities, and it’s also too small,” Hemphill added.
She said that currently they have a structured day for the playground usage, so all children can play on a scheduled time based on classes. Only two classes at a time can use the playground currently, which is difficult for many because not every child can play together at the same time, Hemphill added.
This new updated playground is projected to hold 80 students at a time so more can play at once during recess.
Hemphill said, “I do believe that our community is changing – it’s important to have a nice playground – and it’s important to have all the kids on the playground at once.”
Daily 334 children at Houghton use this playground, said Cipro.
Cipro said that it needs to be updated because an “upgrade to the structure helps keep children engaged in play at recess time and physically fit.”
He added, “The playground is being updated due to the current unit’s wear-and-tear and desire for better handicapped accessibility.”
Cipro said that this was a joint effort by parents and support from Houghton staff.
Hemphill said that the new structure of the updated playground is projected to be a main structure with other play areas in the outer areas, so a range of structures for all children.
“There is going to be a path so that a child in a wheelchair can actually go up to the structures” and there are plans set up for things to be on the ground to be more accessible as well, Hemphill added.
Cipro said that they are still working on various components/stations for the new structure.
The future plan for the playground is to have an upgraded structure, maintaining and keeping components such as age-appropriateness and safety into consideration at all times, Cipro added.