Play That Fits

Wilson Elementary School in Hays, Kansas is the site of a new GameTime playground based on best-practice research designed to promote physical activity for students. 

The playground was designed using the principles found in PlayOn!, a curriculum developed by SHAPE America and PlayCore, that aligns with national standards for physical education and provides teachers and coaches with 125 fun physical activities for the playground  

The new playground was funded by the  Dane G. Hansen Foundation, the Home and School organization and Wilson’s After School program. The school district paid for the surfacing and concrete work out of its capital outlay budget.

Andrea Dinkel, Wilson Home and School president, said, “I just want to say thank you to all of you for doing fundraising like Mrs. [Anita] Scheve said, and I want to thank the parents for helping us out and the community for opening up your wallets and helping us with fundraising and buying stuff from our kiddoes. That means a lot.”

Wilson Principal Anita Scheve also said she was thankful for the community for their support. She said school’s old playground was past its warranty and had areas where the plastic was brittle and cracking. It was becoming a safety hazard for the children, she said. “We are excited to have a new playground,” Scheve said.

Because the project was designed using best practice research for youth physical activity, Wilson Elementary has been named a national demonstration site by PlayCore.