Administrators and teachers at Pembroke Elementary School in Danbury are campaigning for a new playground with equipment to accomodate students with special needs or disabilities. Pembroke has one classroom at each grade level devoted to children with special needs.  The school has set up a go fund me page for donations.   

Teacher Leigh Viviano has spearheaded the project to rebuild the playground at a cost of $150,000.  That figure includes the cost of new equipment and its installation, removing the old equipment, grading and drainage.  The play area fills with water sometimes, to the point where teachers set out cones and yellow caution tape to keep students away. 

A playground with Childscapes in Massachusetts will include a sensory garden, similar to an existing model at Rogers Park playground.  It would also include a safety rock-climbing wall and spinners, in addition to newer playscapes.  The new playground design includes platforms that are wheelchair-accessible.  T

he closest accessible playgrounds are at Ballard Park in Ridgefield and one in Brookfield, so this playground would be open to anyone after school and on the weekends. The school has set up a website, www.pembrokeplayground.com, for tax-deductible donations, and a GoFundMe page.