UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 27, Page 1
April 14, 1994
Volunteers turn design project into a reality

     A dream started to become a reality when members of the University
community took tools in hand March 26 to build a new playground for the
Laboratory Preschool, according to director Alice Eyman.
     The old playground on Academy Street was played out, and creative
renovation was much needed. Although a new playground had been under
discussion for four years, the project was on hold because of cost
considerations, Eyman said, pointing out that one company wanted $10,000
for a consulting fee alone.
     This year, the project took off as students, staff, faculty,
administrators and parents joined to create a new playground for the 69
children enrolled in the preschool.
     "We are thrilled with the play yard and grateful for the spirit of
cooperation that we received from many campus groups," Eyman said.
     "As a demonstration school that helps educate preschool teachers and
plays a leadership role in preschool education, we now will have a
state-of-the art playground to complement our program, thanks to the
efforts of so many willing volunteers," she said.
     The project began when a group of mechanical engineering students
chose the playground as its senior design project. A team of four
seniors-Michelle Guzniczak, Leslie Horton, Dennis Moak and Patrick
Murphy-initially were to design a new staircase for the preschool's
40- year-old playhouse as their project. But, as Murphy explained, the
project "exploded," and the team became involved in redesigning the whole
playground.
     As the project gained momentum, support in terms of funding and help
from skilled craftspersons came through the dean of the College of Human
Resources and from personnel in Plant Operations.
     The engineering team did their play-groundwork in depth, with guidance
from the departments of mechanical engineering and individual and family
studies. The students talked to the teachers, parents and, most
importantly, talked to and observed the children themselves.
     As Horton pointed out, they learned that children don't want or need
elaborate equipment. They like simple and basic pieces, such as climbing
apparatus, movable wooden boxes and boards and sand and water areas.
     The students also visited many area playgrounds, pored over catalogs
and researched and applied national safety codes to the project. The
underlying concept was to design a creative, safe play environment, which,
at the same time, was visually compatible with the University campus, Eyman
said.
     After many brainstorming sessions and detail work on the computer, the
plans were completed down to the last board. "It's one thing to design a
project and another to carry it out," Guzniczak recalled.
     For example, the students learned to operate power machinery from
University carpenters, and pre-cut much of the wood for the project. They
left the more complicated tasks to the professionals.
     The whole project came together on a Saturday when students, parents,
University carpenters, faculty members, administrators and staff, plus some
older brothers and sisters converged on the playground for an intensive,
large scale work-in to tear down old structures and start to build new
ones. Other volunteers prepared desserts and goodies to reward the workers.
     It was an exciting time, watching the plan come to life, according to
Horton.
     Moak agreed a lot was accomplished. There also was a great feeling of
camaraderie, particularly among the parents, many of whom have University
connections, but had not met before.
     "We learned by doing; it was an invaluable experience. We each had
responsibility for a part of the project and worked with a team of parents
and other volunteers. My job was building a retaining wall. It was hard
work, and we had parents working with sledge hammers," Guzniczak recalled.
     As Eyman described the scene, "All worked side by side-men, women,
children-to dig, carry, saw, assemble and in, some cases, take apart."
     The students have continued to work (or as Murphy put it, "What spring
break?"), and the project is approaching completion.
     Many changes have taken place. A retaining wall and berm have been
created where a sandbox will be built, so children can climb up the slope
and into the box on one side. Children in wheelchairs will be able to
approach the area from the other side and play at the same level.
     The 40-year-old, red playhouse has been torn down, and a new one is
being built. More contemporary in design, it is topped by a big deck and a
room on the bottom which will house toy kitchen appliances. The children
already have plans for it, Moak reported. Some want to play McDonald's with
a drive-through window. Others have announced it's a ship.
     Another berm is being constucted with a large, corrugated pipe tunnel
running underneath, and a gang slide going down the slope, flush with the
ground for safety. The berm will not only be a play area but will solve an
existing drainage problem, Guzniczak said.
     A water/sand play area with gate-controlled sluice boxes is being
installed.
     In a creative section , a small, child-sized amphitheatre is already
in use for plays, story reading and language development, and sturdy
outdoor easel/bulletin boards will be set up for artwork.
     Old favorites such as swings, a glider, jungle gym and another slide
are being retained and relocated to an area where a carpet of woodchips
will offer safety.
     The students are enthusiastic about the project. "Actually seeing the
results of our work is wonderful," Horton said.
     "It really blossomed, and is beyond our expectations," Moak said.
     "What we are doing is worthwhile, and it's great for the kids," Murphy
said.
     "It's terrific. I see the playground every day, and it's gratifying to
see our design take shape," Guzniczak said.
                                                  -Sue Swyers Moncure