Creating a Safe, Engaging Playground for ALL Children

Francis Wyman is a public elementary school located in Burlington, MA. The playgrounds at this school service a very large community; in addition to the 600 students, the grounds are utilized by special needs students from a number of adjoining towns, two town-wide, after-school programs as well as the town's full-day, summer child care program. This area also serves as the neighborhood playground.

Children Need to Play

The benefits of outdoor play for children cannot be understated. A recent position paper by the American Pediatrics Association affirms that play is "integral to the academic environment" and directly correlates with many positive improvements in a school setting. In short children learn through play. Unfortunately deteriorating ground conditions, inadequate access and lack of play structures have created unsafe and unengaging play areas at Francis Wyman. In fact, our special needs students have been unable to access the playground for almost two years.

Time for Change

In the summer of 2007, the Francis Wyman Playground Renovation kicked off a comprehensive and exciting plan to resolve all these pressing issues. The cornerstone is a natural playground design, which will provide safe, accessible, age-appropriate play, social and learning opportunities, as well as much needed landscaping and site beautification. Francis Wyman is one of the first schools in the greater Boston area to embrace this progressive type of design, and we are very excited to be a flagship for this innovative idea.

The town of Burlington is committed to this project, and has already approved over $100K to resolve the more serious safety and access issues. However, with an overall budget exceeding $200K, outside donations are a crucial element in funding these renovations.

Help Us Reach This Goal!

Visit our fundraising page to see how you can help. The playground committee has applied for a grant and is planning several fundraisers for the spring, including an exciting On-Line Auction. With everyone's support, we will be able to implement these dramatic and exciting renovations and provide every child the opportunity to participate in a safe, enriching, and accessible play area. Contributions are tax deductible. Thank you!