As dozens of children returned to school this week at Capital Preparatory Magnet School (http://capitalprep.org/) in Hartford, some parents are hoping this will be the year of upgrades, including putting in a playscape for children.
During recess, children often play tag, kick a ball, use sidewalk chalk or play in the dirt, but educators say a playscape would aid in their development.
“We need to make sure that kids have access to activities and equipment that they want to participate and play in as opposed to standing and chatting with friends at recess,” Lee Mascolo, a physical education teacher, said.
"Coming in from a movement break, they would be ready, they would be active, they would be engaged in learning," Maggie Rubino, a special education teacher at Capital Prep, said.
One of those students who could benefit is Maxwell Head.
His mother Erika said Maxwell is mildly autistic and has blossomed at Capital Prep, but a playscape would help advance his growth.
"It helps with his development, his cognitive development, understanding things, being able to have those relationships and building them," Head said.
Head finds it upsetting watching Capital Prep make sacrifices, like cutting eight staff positions this year, as well has having no playscape.
"How can we have a stadium next door to us, but not have a playscape for our children to play on. It does not make any sense," Head said.
Up to this point, the city of Hartford has contributed $102,465,164 to the Downtown North development including Dunkin Donuts Park.
For the 2016-2017 school year, the city contributed $7 million less, for a total of $94,762,478 to the Hartford Public School District.
“They are putting all this money into this team and they are putting a lot of effort, a lot of man power, there is even less space because now parking is even more difficult in in this area. So you have a responsibility to give back, especially to the school right next door to you. I expect that we should have a great playground and maybe the city of Hartford should try to talk to them about helping to support it,” Head said.
A playscape would be a dream come true for students and teachers.
"It would be incredible for our kids. The excitement, the enthusiasm we would see from the kids," Rubino said.
"We [would] get to go on swings and slides and have fun and actually not get dirty," Wynter Anderson, a third grader from New Britain, said.
According to the school district’s communications spokesperson, a new playground would have to come from the district’s capital improvement fund.
NBC Connecticut has reached out to Mayor Luke Bronin several times for a comment and we are awaiting a reply.
If you would like to donate to a playscape for Capital Prep, you can mail a check to:
Capital Preparatory Magnet School
1304 Main St.
Hartford, CT, 06103
Memo: Playground Project
