Out2Play was joined by students of P.S. 112, principal Susan Barnes, faculty and staff, and Councilman Larry Seabrook on Thursday, September 10 to cut the ribbon on the new playground.
“We are really excited about how this play space has transformed the P.S. 112 school yard,” said Andrea Wenner, executive director for Out2Play.“This is a place for them to run, climb, and be active in a safe environment.”
New additions to the once barren yard totaled $ 250,000 and include a bright jungle gym with monkey bars, climbing space and a slide.The play space also has a track, hopscotch court, maps and other blacktop games.
“With this project the kids really liked the map of the boroughs and the kickball field and track,” said Sarah Gilbert, project administrator for Out2Play.“Between the design and construction this took about 9 months to complete.”
Funding for the project at P.S. 112, located 1925 Schieffelin Avenue, was provided through the public private partnership through Seabrook and the Carson Family Charitable Trust.Both were presented with a gift from the students wishing to thank them for the generous enhancement to the school.
“This school yard was a large area with nothing and the Bronx has one of the highest rates of obesity,” said Seabrook.“Now this gives the kids a chance to come out and exercise and play.”
Out2Play is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and improving playgrounds within New York City public schools to enhance the quality of learning for the students and increase health benefits.
“It has lots of cool stuff for children to do.My favorite is the track because I am a runner and I always get 1st place,” said Richard Taylor Quinones, 11.“We used to have to bring objects from home to make it more exciting, but now we don’t have to bring anything because it’s so fun.”
Out2Play has complete 40 projects this Spring and Summer, including 12 in the Bronx and 3 within Seabrook’s district.The other schools selected were P.S. 6, P.S. 62, P.S. 71, P.S. 81, P.S. 90, P.S. 103, P.S. 109, P.S. 160, P.S. 186, P.S. 211, and P.S. 306.
“There was no constructive play prior to this playground,” said Barnes.“It limits the number of fights between students because they are engaged.We are only two days into the school year and we already see it’s a great success and the kids’ reaction is wonderful.They are all very excited.”
