SPRD opens new playground

Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) held a grand opening for their community preschool's new playground on Thursday, May 19.

The community Preschool, housed at Sisters Elementary School, was able to adapt a small gravel section behind the classrooms to a new dynamic play area over the course of the last several months, Thursday represented their community grand opening.

"I love it!" said one three-year-old Grasshopper Class member. "I loved building the castle on the stage with the new puzzle pieces."

Students could be seen bouncing on ride-on toys, playing in the new outdoor playhouses, making water and sand flow with the new play tables, and even planting flowers.

One of the most unique items is an eight-foot-long play wall - complete with everything a young preschooler would want to try to touch: door locks, telephones, buttons on a calculator, things to twist and turn, open and shut and more.

"I want one of these for my house," said Ashley Nordell, one of the preschool teachers in the Dragonfly Classroom (students age 4-5).

A grant from The Roundhouse Foundation coupled with donations from Northwest Playground Equipment and the Portland Children's Museum helped to bring the space to life with new outdoor toys, a stage, interactive toys found along the walls, and water tables. The Sisters Elementary School administration allowed the space to be converted to use in this way and worked together with SPRD staff to ensure proper installation of the new playground equipment.

SPRD staff member Rob Meeter committed well over two weeks worth of work including leveling the play area, pouring concrete and mounting two spring rider toys, installing privacy fencing, designing and constructing the theatrical play area complete with bounce-back flooring, building a play table, spreading bark chips and setting up toys to make the space very user-friendly. In addition, Joel Priest, a parent of one of the students in the preschool, developed and built a sand play table - which was a big hit with the

students.

"Without Rob we wouldn't have the space we have today," said preschool teacher Valerie Selig. "This space is so nice - just right out our back door, the kids are loving it."

The Sisters Park & Recreation District Community Preschool runs on the same academic calendar as Sisters Elementary School and is set to wrap-up its 2015-2016 year. Having the preschool housed at the elementary school is a big benefit to the students in the program. Students are able to spend time in the building, get to know the way the school is laid out, the rules; and are even invited to participate in school assemblies and activities. Having students transition out of the preschool program into kindergarten helps make the move easier on the students and the parents.

Pre-registration for the 2016 year is available at Sisters Park & Recreation District office on McKinney Butte Road. Two classes are available, the Grasshoppers (students aged 3-4) and Dragonflies (students age 4-5). Families can choose their own schedule up to five days a week.

For more information on the Sisters Park & Recreation District Community Preschool or to register contact SPRD at 541-549-2091 or visit www.SistersRecreation.com.