After years of advocacy, Chimborazo Elementary opens new playground
What was once an empty asphalt area with old exercise equipment is now a newly vibrant and modern playground designed by Chimborazo Elementary School’s students.
Over 150 volunteers gathered at the Church Hill school on Thursday to build the playground, which includes a new swingset, zipline, an updated basketball court, and a nearly human-sized chess board. Construction was completed in just a matter of hours.
“We are so excited to have this playground at Chimborazo Elementary because we’ve been waiting so long to have this,” Evelyn, a second grade student at the school, said.
The school collaborated with CarMax Foundation and Kaboom!, a national nonprofit that works to end playspace inequities, to build the nearly $150,000 playground. CarMax also provided a $5,000 check to the school’s PTA during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“The sheer amount of resources it takes to bring kids solid play structures is unfathomable, and I had zero idea of what it would take when we got started,” said Denise Hicks, a school parent and member of the PTA. “And now we know.”
Kaboom! also worked with students and families and helped bring their visions to life.
The playground comes after years where 3rd through 5th graders had to play in the barren area. The Church Hill neighborhood school requested that the Richmond Public Schools division include $250,000 in the budget for the playground, but was rejected in consecutive years.
The school’s PTA then worked with the Richmond Ed Fund to establish a fundraising page, before news stories grabbed the attention of CarMax, which has been a longtime partner with Kaboom!
Chimborazo has a playground on the other side of the building, but Principal Cordell Watkins said it is hard to fit the school’s population of nearly 450 students on one playground.
“People don't think about this, but you have 50, 60 kids playing on a playground at one time, and we want to create a safe environment,” he said.
About 172 students can now use the new playground.
Watkins said the school has seen exponential academic growth among students, and the new playground is a great way to reward the success.
“We've been working hard, the kids deserve to play hard too,” he said.
The playground will be open to students early next week, with first access to students in summer school classes, before the rest of the students come back to school in August.
Contact Reporter Victoria A. Ifatusin at vifatusin@richmonder.org
