South Colonie hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Saturday, May 20, to highlight the installation of five new playgrounds at its elementary schools. The playground equipment was made possible through generous donations from several school PTA groups and a grant from Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie).
During the ceremonial ribbon cutting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perry emphasized the importance of outdoor playground spaces for student development. He stated, “We knew that having outdoor playground space for our students to play was vital to their development. In addition to the physical benefits, the space also provides a natural setting for students to interact outside of the classroom, where they can learn many life skills. Rebuilding these outdoor spaces for students has been a priority for us as we evaluate the overall needs of the district.”
Last year, several elementary PTAs announced grants to help cover the costs of enhancing or replacing the existing playgrounds in each school. The new equipment arrived just after the new year, and installation crews began their work at each elementary school within the South Colonie Central School district. The final installation will take place at Shaker Road Elementary School in the coming weeks.
In addition to the donations from the South Colonie PTA groups and a $25,000 grant from Assemblymember Steck, the district invested approximately $30,000 in equipment to each building in addition to labor and concrete costs associated with installation. Funding provided by the district came from the American Rescue Plan Act ESSER grant.
“The South Colonie School District is known for its amazing schools, and this new playground continues that tradition by providing our youngest learners with a safe space built to encourage their development and well-being,” said Assemblymember Phil Steck. “I’m proud to have provided funding for a project that is sure to have an impact on many of our families.”
“We are so thankful for the support of our PTAs and of course Assemblymember Steck in supporting this initiative. We look forward to celebrating this special time for our students this weekend,” Perry added.