A ceremony took place recently for the students at Macungie Elementary School to welcome all students to its new fully-inclusive playground.

This inclusive playground is the first of its kind for the East Penn School District.

A fully-inclusive playground is one in which children of all abilities can interact physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally.

Principal Suzanne Vincent welcomed the students, families and special guests. She shared that the idea for an inclusive playground originated from staff, students and families in 2021.

“The old playground was OLD, so we started thinking about a new playground. Once that thinking (and dreaming) began, it was obvious we had an amazing opportunity to make a new space that was special and all-inclusive.

“As I started talking to our staff and Parent Teacher Organization, and then students, all members of our community wanted to seize the opportunity to be sure the new playground was all inclusive,” Vincent said.

“All students,” she emphasized, “deserve to walk, run, roll and play!”

The East Penn School District was supportive of the new playground.

Superintendent Dr. Kristen Campbell and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Douglas Povilaitis attended the ceremony May 7.

Campbell told the students her message had three points.

First, “we’re all different sizes, shapes and we have different types of gifts and talents; but the playground represents something we can all belong to,” Campbell said.

Second, “It takes time to reach goals. Building this special playground took four years.”

Lastly, she told students “To reach our goals, we have to work with others.”

Campbell noted the partnership involving the district, the school, the families and PTO was important because “everyone cares about you and the future students.”

Facilities Director Steven Onushco committed school district funds of $206,347.88 to the project and the Macungie Elementary families, via the PTO, contributed $48,412.74.

PTO President Becky Shreck noted financial support came from the students’ families and the community through annual color runs held at the school for the past two years. Individual donors/sponsors contributed approximately $10,000 to the playground as well.

Shreck told the audience “all students deserve a place to play.” She hopes this playground will “inspire other schools.”

The most notable part of the playground is the surface. The district support for this type of surface is the same for all district playgrounds. Vincent said the surface is “fantastic and does not require the same yearly maintenance as a mulch surface.”

Vincent said most playgrounds have mulch which prevents students with mobility needs from accessing the space around the equipment. She hoped to have a flat surface meeting safety requirements. The Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley provided the model for the surface. One of the Macungie Elementary School students is a member of the Miracle League. She added the student and the student’s family “were not only instrumental in identifying that field as a model, but also as individual donors to the project.”

The Keller family led the way in family donations with extended family members also providing donations.

The Keller twins, Ava and Niko, donated their monetary birthday gifts to the playground fund. Niko, who lives with cerebral palsy, was thrilled to be able to participate on this playground. Jillian Keller shared that before this playground, Niko would have to remain on the blacktop surface as it was too difficult for him to use his walker in the mulch. Keller told the audience, “Playgrounds are where students learn, grow, develop skills and explore. Traditional playgrounds are filled with barriers.” Not anymore. Niko used his walker to move about the playground and its equipment.

Families with children who use mobility equipment know how important it is to have their children be able to learn and play on the playground with the other children.

Niko appeared to enjoy all the equipment including the balance beam and step ladder; but clearly his favorites were the rock climbing and spinning seat. When asked for his thoughts on the new playground, he said it was all “good” with a huge smile.

The new surface allows for sneakers, wheels or both. Keller shared this effort was to include all students.

“This school will never have a student who has to watch the other children play from the blacktop. Every child deserves to play,” Jillian Keller said.

The inclusive playground boasts a number of key features. All ramps meet important requirements for width and incline to support wheelchairs and walkers. A single spinner element is also accessible to wheelchairs and walkers, or for any student who has other mobility needs. A quiet sensory area with unique panels offers quiet play for students.

A Buddy Bench was also installed.

This bench was donated in memory of a former Macungie student Brian Stelz by his family. Christine Stelz shared her son Brian’s story.

Brian attended Macungie Elementary from 2001-2007. Brian had minor surgery and his teacher at the time, Miss Amy Jo Clemson (now Mrs. Amy Jo Mushrush) brought a card from his classmates and activities to his home.

“This act of kindness,” Stelz said, “made Brian feel special” and was a memory he often shared with her.

Stelz also noted Brian’s teacher in fourth grade was Miss Clare Sebastian (now Mrs. Clare Harvey) who assigned a time capsule project. Brian brought in a stuffed puppy dog from his Pop Pop who had died. Brian was emotional and cried when sharing this assignment. His peers did not make fun of him for bringing in a stuffed animal and they did not make fun of him for crying. Rather, Stelz said, “His classmates comforted him. They were kind to him when he needed it most.” Both Mushrush and Harvey attended the ceremony.

Stelz told the audience “being kind is a choice and small acts can make a big difference.”

Harvey remained a constant supporter of Brian beyond his years in the East Penn School District. The Buddy Bench was donated in loving memory of Brian who died at the age of 24 in 2020.

In addition to Brian’s mom, his dad Brian, sister Sydney, grandmother and extended family were present at the ceremony May 7.

Stelz encouraged the students to “be brave, strong and kind. If you see someone on the buddy bench, make a new friend.”

This bench is a legacy of Brian’s positive memories at Macungie Elementary School.

A second bench is being sponsored by the school’s Drama Club.

The Select Chorus, directed by Dr. Julia Wetherhold, sang Bruno Mars’ “You Can Count on Me” to emphasize that all students are to be included.

School Counselor Jennifer Csordas is leading efforts to add a painted mural and artwork to the blacktop area of the playground space.

Along with fellow staff members Sam Kreiner, Cate Featerby and Paige Shingler, Csordas wants to have the hopscotch numbers painted on the playground surface as well as the quote “Be you. Be Kind. Belong.”

Csordas explained to the audience play involves solving problems, making friends and exploring the world.

“Inclusion is more than just access,” Csordas.

Wetherhold then led the students in a “Party on the Playground” (theme song from Little Einsteins). The entire audience was on their feet celebrating the new playground.

Inclusive playgrounds are becoming more popular throughout the Lehigh Valley.

In the Allentown School District, Hiram-Dodd Elementary School has a playground with swings with seatbelt-like bars that make buckling much easier for individuals in wheelchairs, but the playground uses soft mulch which is challenging for individuals with mobility issues.

The Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital has an inclusive playground at the Pocono Raceway which is one of the top 100 inclusive playgrounds in the country.

QuiNBy’s in Quakertown opened an inclusive playground in 2022.

Upper Milford Township had been planning for a similar surface to make the playground at Lenape Park a fully-inclusive one; however, the cost of the surface was voted down in favor of using the mulch which limits the mobility for those in wheelchairs or with walkers.

The Macungie and East Penn School District communities cooperated to make this inclusive playground one in which all children, no matter their challenges, have an opportunity to play. Vincent thanked all involved in this endeavor.

“It has been an honor to help make this amazing dream a reality. No one plays alone,” Vincent said.

The families hope this playground will inspire other schools and communities to upgrade their playgrounds so that no child has to be separated from the rest of the children who get to play.