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Parents tell Salem School Committee early‑childhood playgrounds are unsafe, inaccessible; urge on‑site upgrades and grant strategy
Summary
Parents and the district playground advisory told the School Committee Sept. 24 that early‑childhood play areas at Carlton, the Early Childhood Center and Horace Mann are often inaccessible, lack age‑appropriate equipment and need ADA‑compliant surfacing and shade.
A parent advisory and school representatives told the Salem School Committee on Sept. 24 that several early‑childhood play areas in the district are inadequate for young learners and for students with disabilities, and urged the district to prioritize on‑site, accessible playgrounds rather than relying on public parks.
Kate Mattern, who convened the district’s superintendent advisory playground committee, told the committee that the early‑childhood playgrounds at the Carlton school, the Salem Early Childhood Center (ECC) and Horace Mann “range from mostly empty to potentially dangerous to inaccessible for kids with physical disabilities.” Mattern urged the committee to include playgrounds in reconfiguration planning and to consider dedicated district management rather than relying on Parks and Recreation equipment.
Melinda Baker, Carleton PTO co‑president, said Carleton’s kindergarten play area…
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