Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Recess is playtime again
New playgrounds have been installed at five elementary schools. Fishburn Park will be next.
ERIC BRADY The Roanoke Times
Fifth-graders at Morningside Elementary School play on new playground equipment Friday at the school.
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School is back in session in Roanoke -- and so is recess.
New playgrounds were installed at five elementary schools in time for the start of school Sept. 8.
Last year school officials contracted with the city's parks and recreation department to have the playground equipment maintained and inspected regularly by city-certified playground inspectors. Per the agreement, the school system also paid $240,000 to have city staff remove playgrounds at Forest Park, Morningside, Lincoln Terrace, Garden City, Fishburn Park, Raleigh Court and Round Hill elementary schools and to buy four new sets.
An unexpected procurement snag left children at some schools playing in mulch and sharing swings. The school system wanted to buy playgrounds from an out-of-state vendor and that conflicted with the city's procurement process.
In August the school board approved an amendment to the contract with the city, which restored playground procurement to the board.
Playgrounds were purchased and installed in a matter of weeks at Garden City, Lincoln Terrace, Morningside, Roanoke Academy for Mathematics and Science and Westside elementary schools.
Fishburn Park Elementary still is lacking a playground, but school officials say as soon as the required permits are secured, the playground will be installed.
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