Bridgeport Elementary School students share their ideas for a new playground. The district is seeking grant funding. (Photo Provided)

The new playground and public recreation area at Bridgeport Exempted Village School District is coming together and district administrators are seeking grant funding for some new equipment. Superintendent Brent Ripley once more invited some of Bridgeport Elementary’s students to share their wish lists.

Work on the grant-funded education, training, health and community center to be dubbed “The Bridge” is continuing through the school year, with underlying infrastructure in place and the facility’s footprint taking shape in front of the elementary school.

This project has also meant moving the playground. Planners have decided on a location beside the administrative building along National Road. Slides and other equipment have been set up and a sidewalk and basketball court poured.

This was the second meeting with elementary students to hear their ideas. The first was held last spring. Bridgeport Schools has followed a policy of seeking input from every possible source regarding the Bridge, and this practice held true in the playground.

The elementary experts, as Ripley referred to the students, were overjoyed to be a part of the planning process, and they brought presentations and drawings of what they would like to see when the playground is complete. They shared their ideas in a meeting with Ripley, Michael Snider, sales representative of Snider Recreation who will be completing the playground, Elementary School Principal Kamaron Sabinski, Maintenance and Transportation Supervisor Dave Lewis and Bridgeport Girl Scouts Troop Leader Misty Corley.

Some of the elementary students’ ideas included a water fountain, merry-go-round, and different types of monkey bars. The students were interested in a rock-climbing wall and said the district’s blue and black Bulldogs colors should feature.

Other educational activities were also discussed, such as gardens and interactive games with science, technology, engineering and math applications. Talk also turned to fencing. Other students said the playground should be wheelchair accessible.

Sabinski complimented her students for keeping safety in mind while coming up with ideas.

“I want to say how proud I am. Safety’s a big deal in the elementary and it sounds to me like you’ve really taken that into consideration,” she said. “I love that you’re thinking about how to have fun and be safe all at the same time.”

Ripley thanked the elementary students.

“We’re going to do our best to get as much there as we can, to see what we can do with the space, and hopefully we get the grant,” he said. In every step of the Bridge’s planning stage, the maxim has been to get the most out of every

square foot of the new building. This is also true of the upcoming playground. “I appreciate you guys. You guys are the experts when it comes to playground equipment and what we can do for you, so thank you.”

Afterward, Ripley said he saw potential in suggestions such as a rock-climbing wall.

“They have great ideas and we’re going to wrap them into this grant application. That’s what we’re here for.”

When complete, the playground will serve both the elementary students and the public after school hours.