Not even rain could dampen the spirits of the students at P.S. 103 celebrating their brand new play space.
On Thursday, October 15 the students and faculty of P.S 103, located 4125 Carpenter Avenue, gathered in the auditorium to celebrate their new playground created by Out2Play.
Once a barren yard, Out2Play transformed the space by adding a basketball court, theater and performance area, jungle gym, a blacktop track and field, and blacktop games.
The playground was made possible through the public and private partnership of Councilman Larry Seabrook and Richard Ronzetti and Louis Hanover.
“We really want to thank Out2Play,” said Hanover. “We couldn’t be more excited to help.”
The major challenge in developing playground was working with the little space available given the temporary classrooms that occupy the yard of P.S. 103.
Overcoming the challenge, Out2Play worked with the school to fulfill all the students’ requests, as well as add chess tables and soccer nets to the school garden. They have also provided equipment for all the games.
“Despite the temporary classroom we were able to maximize the space in the yard,” said Andrea Wenner, executive director of Out2Play. “This yard is also open to the community after dismissal so it was much needed for this community.”
According to Principal Alice Brown the school has over 1,160 children and the new playground makes for a more organized and safe play area.
“The students are so thrilled and thankful that they created beautiful boxes full of thank you notes and cards for all the people who made this possible,” said Brown. “They realize the difference in their school.”
The nonprofit organization will have completed 80 playgrounds by the end of 2009 around New York City, with 12 built throughout the Bronx this year, including three in Seabrooks district.
“When I came here last year and took a tour we saw a need and we were able to put the moneys together to create this playground and I want to give a big hand to Out2Play,” said Seabrook. “It is good for the children’s educational values to exercise and free their minds. It givens them a chance to interact and helps fight child obesity.”
Seabrook will also be donating $ 500,000 to the P.S. 103 for roof repairs and another $ 500,000 grant for improvements to the library.
