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Abington approves long‑planned inclusive playground renovations for all elementary schools
Summary
After a multi‑year process with repeated bids and community input, the board awarded contracts to replace elementary playgrounds with accessible, poured‑in‑place rubber surfacing and inclusive equipment; administrators said work will be phased to complete in summer 2025.
The Abington Board of School Directors approved an award of contract Jan. 28 to renovate all seven district elementary school playgrounds with inclusive equipment and poured‑in‑place rubber surfacing, a project district staff said has been under development since 2019.
District staff told the board the project went through multiple design iterations with outside consultants, the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) and playground specialists to prioritize accessibility. Dr. Melcore said the district reissued the bid three times; earlier solicitations produced no bidders or noncompliant responses. The rebid returned three competitive proposals and, with the recommended award, the district expects to complete the scope this summer rather than splitting work across two summers.
Why it matters: The renovations will replace older surfacing and equipment with ADA‑accessible ramps, transfer stations, inclusive play components and a poured‑in‑place rubber surface widely used for universal accessibility. The board and CPAC members emphasized that the design aims not just for physical access but for inclusive play so students of varying abilities can use equipment simultaneously.
Board members praised the long effort. Mrs. Brown said the renovations will let students with mobility devices “not only access, but to enjoy the equipment,” and Miss Eisenhardt, a longtime CPAC participant, said she was “thrilled to see this push forward.” Administrators told the board the work will be phased by contractor Mr. Curtin starting in spring and targeting completion by August/September 2025 so schools are ready for the new year.
Funding and procurement: Dr. Melcore told the board the project will be funded through bonds approved last year; the district pursued grants during design but did not secure external funding. Bid packages included options for summer 2025 and summer 2026; the winning proposals allow completion in summer 2025. The district also rejected bids earlier in the fall for certain other packages and rejected a separate set of bids for replacement 72‑passenger buses on the basis of inventory and specification nonconformance.
Vote and next steps: The board approved the awards and the lease financing item for one 30‑passenger bus and authorized contract administration. Administrators said they will phase work to limit school‑year disruption and will post schedules for each playground as construction dates firm.
“Although it's a long process, I think that, in the end, the end product is going to be better for our students,” Dr. Melcore said during the presentation.
