Advertisement On a recent quest to find my 15-month-old, Vincent, a place to play, I encountered play yards that were too dirty, too big and too old before making my way to what I deemed “just right” on
La Crosse’s South Side.
The Hamilton Early Learning Center’s grounds house a litter-free “playscape” that has so many slides Vincent has a difficult time deciding which one to go down first. He rushes to the child-size steps and timidly walks across the bridge, holding my hands.
Vincent likes all the activities, and I appreciate the ground below: cushy shredded rubber tires that squish when you walk instead of wood chips that poke and scratch.
The neighborhood and school should be proud of the playground built last summer through fund-raising efforts.
Many elementary school playgrounds in the La Crosse School District have received makeovers in recent years through similar efforts.
However, a blanket of old-fashioned wood chips is still found under most of their equipment.
School district administrators have recommended recycled tire product begin replacing the wood chips during the 2008-09 school year, with $7,000 set aside in the community service fund levy.
“Personally, I think the aesthetics of the rubber put in at Hamilton looks nice,” Janet Rosseter, executive director of business services for the district, said Monday at the school board meeting.
It is also a safer surface and has a longer life span, she said.
Wood chips that cover the ground under La Crosse School District playground equipment are 12 inches deep and have to be replaced every seven years, said Joe Ledvina, district building and grounds supervisor.
The wood chips are “built-up” annually and require labor to tend to, he said. The shredded rubber costs more but is supposed to last longer and require less attention.
The idea made school board member Ken French uneasy who feared the rubber could be a potential health hazard.
“I’m just a little nervous replacing something that has been working well and is natural with something like that,” he said.
Administrators also recommended funding the following programs in the $649,635 community service fund levy, which is used to pay for programs and services that are not regular educational programs and serve a community purpose:
Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424.
