Valley school playgrounds get revamped

Some Coachella Valley schools are getting makeovers, helping to make recess the best period of the day.

Thanks to money from the Measure E bond passed in 2008, all elementary schools in the Palm Springs unified school district will have new playgrounds.

Landau Elementary School in Cathedral City is getting a $690,000 playground makeover for its upper grades and kindergartners, an upgrade from the old play structures.

“All the playground stuff, it was all made of medal. It was too scorching hot to go on the swings or climb,” said 5th grader Victoria Jimenez. “I’m really happy they’re going to be building it.”

The playground improvement project is aimed at providing age appropriate equipment for a safer and healthier recess.

“We want every student to be out there getting as much exercise as possible and touching every piece of equipment as much as possible,” said Julie Arthur, PSUSD Executive Director of Facilities and Planning.

When Landau’s Americans with Disabilities Act approved playgrounds open in May, students no matter what age, grade or physical ability will have opportunity to play.

“When the new playground opens up I’m going on the monkey bars. I used to be the monkey bar champion,” said 5th grader Jeremiah Nash.

This is the final phase of the project. Other campuses currently getting revamped include Rio Vista, Two Bunch Palms and Cahuilla Elementary schools.