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Woodland Hills Elementary Playground Named One of 10 Best Inclus

Woodland Hills Elementary Playground Named One of 10 Best Inclus

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by: TownHubAdmin Active Indicator LED Icon Site Admin  OP  New Member
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 10:55am  
Woodland Hills Elementary Playground Named One of 10 Best Inclusive School Playgrounds
 
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from Humble ISD:
 
Woodland Hills Elementary playground named one of 10 Best Inclusive School Playgrounds in America
 
By: Joshua Koch | March 24, 2023
 
Woodland Hills Elementary School’s new fairytale-themed playground has been named one of the 10 Best Inclusive School Playgrounds in America by Soliant and is the only playground in Texas to make the list.
 
Soliant is one of the nation’s largest healthcare and education staffing companies.
 
“Playgrounds located across the country were reviewed based on factors that include the utilization of inclusive playground design core principles, quantity and quality of play features offered, and any unique inspirations or stories behind the development, funding, or name of the playground,” Soliant stated in its news release. “The selected playgrounds go beyond minimum accessibility to offer play experiences for a wide variety of needs—for example, by offering braille features for students who are visually impaired and sensory-rich structures for students with developmental disabilities.”
 
The new playground at Woodland Hills Elementary opened in October 2022 as a part of Humble ISD’s initiative to install new immersive, imaginatively-themed playground equipment at all 30 elementary schools across the district. The middle schools and high schools are receiving new outdoor obstacle and fitness courses. The new playgrounds, obstacle and fitness courses are being installed on handicap-accessible, poured-in-place, rubber surfaces with fall protection. Outdoor equipment was a part of Bond 2022.
 
“It is very exciting to have Humble ISD, and the new Woodland Hills Elementary fairytale-themed playground, recognized on a national level! We are very proud to be the lone selection from the State of Texas,” Humble ISD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Fagen said. “Humble ISD is thrilled to create community assets -- places where families and friends come together for outdoor play in fresh air and sunshine. We want all children from every neighborhood across the district to have a special outdoor play experience. We also want to enhance our community and raise property values for all taxpayers who have and continue to support us so well. Together we are the reason Humble ISD is the best place for all children.”
 
The Woodland Hills ages 5-12 PlayBooster® castle structure features wheelchair-accessible ramps from the ground level to elevated decks. This section of the structure features a variety of play and sensory panels where everyone can interact and play together.
 
The dragon’s tail, swings, OmniSpin® Spinner and Global Motion® are set at transfer height which creates more equitable access to higher elements and encourages interactive play among kids and adults of all abilities.
 
The OmniSpin® and molded bucket seat swing both feature high-backed seats providing additional head, neck, and back support. This playground also features seamless poured-in-place surfacing which ensures smooth access to all areas of the playground.
 
Woodland Hills Elementary School is located at 2222 Tree Lane, Kingwood. Humble ISD elementary school playgrounds are open to the public when school is not in session.
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Ruger5 Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 10:58am  
Im not up to date on all this inclusive stuff. Does this mean there were those the school had been excluding in the past?
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TEXASGIRLMAMMA Active Indicator LED Icon 11
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 10:58am  
NICE!
I drive by there sometimes and it does look like a very nice playground. I will have to stop and take a closer look one day.
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TEXASGIRLMAMMA Active Indicator LED Icon 11
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 10:59am  
Im not up to date on all this inclusive stuff. Does this mean there were those the school had been excluding in the past?
 
@Ruger5 : That is a good question!
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Ruger5 Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 11:02am  
Ruger5 : That is a good question!
 
@TEXASGIRLMAMMA : Me wonders if our district has crossed over from commonsense to ………..wait, wait, what side of the fence are we on? Oops.
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ExCTGuyInTX Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 11:06am  
Ruger5 : That is a good question!
 
@TEXASGIRLMAMMA : A simple Google search would explain it.
I worked with our board to replace all of the playground equipment in one of our parks, so I know firsthand.
An Inclusive Playground is one where it has sensory-rich environment that enables children to develop physically, socially and emotionally. An engaging place that provides the just-right level of challenge and offers opportunities to succeed.
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Bloom Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 11:09am  
@Ruger5 : I think it simply means an effort has been made to include Special Ed students or those with disabilities access to playground equipment. My DD has worked in Sp Ed, and choices have been extremely limited, if any at all.
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sweetie Active Indicator LED Icon 12 Forum Moderator
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 11:11am  
Very nice! So happy that it's inclusive of those with special needs
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Ruger5 Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 11:12am  
Ruger5 : I think it simply means an effort has been made to include Special Ed students or those with disabilities access to playground equipment. My DD has worked in Sp Ed, and choices have been extremely limited, if any at all.
 
@Bloom : Ahhhhh, thank you for the clarification. The school has my applause. I was thinking along another line. I subbed there in Special ed 4 years. This is a good thing. A very good thing.
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Bloom Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 11:14am  
@Ruger5: So many times, the only option has been to go outside for a walk.
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Ruger5 Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 1 year, 10 mos ago   Mar 27, '23 11:25am  
Ruger5: So many times, the only option has been to go outside for a walk.
 
@Bloom : When I subbed there the special ed kids enjoyed their very own indoor playground - I was mightily impressed with the special needs equipment made available. A truly remarkable thing. But there are so many physical levels of abilities - so to those who have the ability to play on the new play ground equipment I say bravo for the option.
 
This play area was housed in the back standalone buildings. I'll bet they're now back in schoolroom use. Such a population explosion of late. There's nothing that beats good ol sunshine though!
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