Hard Work Pays Off With New Play Area

Judy Knecht, teacher of orthopedically handicapped children at Fred Lull Special Education Center, said one of her students may have had a little incentive to learn to walk last month.

Four-year-old Joseph Orellana’s progress was just in time for Friday’s grand opening of the bright yellow, red and blue playground equipment behind the school.

With a wide grin, Joseph climbed head first into a red covered slide and coasted down on his belly.

The playground, on a state-regulated thick mat to break the falls of disabled children, cost $50,000. It took parents and teachers five years to raise the money to build it.

“Our staff and family sold a lot of candy bars to be here today,” said Principal Pauline Furman during the ceremony. Teachers and parents also sold wrapping paper and collected pennies, and the father of one staff member solicited donations.

The school raised $25,000, which was matched by a state block grant, Furman said.

Children were antsy the last few weeks as they watched and waited for the construction to finish. Blair Little, 9, and German Pineda, 11, sat calmly through Friday’s ceremony--they had tested the equipment the day before.

“I liked it, it was fun,” Blair said.

Teachers and parents agreed the playground will not only bring life to a barren lot behind the school, but will help the children feel that their school is just like any other. “You could drive by the school any time of the day and there were no kids playing outside,” said Dana Sapper, holding her 4-year-old son, Carl, a student at the school. “Now you can drive by and see kids playing.”