The traditional playground still stands behind the Hoosier Road Elementary School building, but a new playground was unveiled nearby. Thursday marked the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Parkour playground equipment.
Parkour is designed for training discipline, a bit like a military obstacle course, aimed at elementary students.
Hoosier Road Principal Will Hurst says the decision to pursue this equipment came after a great deal of research, and the playground design is aligned with the HSE21 program of immersive learning.
“We feel the skills kids will practice in an informal, nontraditional manner here will translate to what we’re doing in the classrooms,” said Hurst.
Students have their choice of the traditional playground or the Parkour during recess time. Teachers will reserve the equipment to use during certain classroom time as it fits into the class curriculum.
The playground has a total sticker price of about $30,000. Hurst says a number of sources were used to make this project happen. The City’s Department of Public Works handled excavation and demolition work at no cost to the school. Recreation Insights provided what Hurst described as a “substantial discount.” The Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation provided “generous funding,” according to Hurst. The remaining $6,500 was handled by the Hoosier Road Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).