District News: 2011-2012
Cornelia Playground Now Open for All-Inclusive Play
This summer, Cornelia Elementary has been hard at work destructing their 16 year-old playground to make way for a new playground designed with accessibility in mind. When Cornelia Principal, Chris Holden, saw that their playground was coming to the end of its life, he wanted to see a safer, more engaging and accessible playground in its place. After over a year in the making, the new playground is ready for Cornelia students to enjoy on their first day of school.
The former playground was destructed on June 25, 2011 and the state-of-the-art replacement opened on August 17, 2011 at a grand opening community celebration. At the event, Cornelia student Angelina Hlavac boasted, “I love it, and I'm one of the first kids to get to play on it. I got the golden ticket!"
The new playground boasts more than 8,000 square-feet of equipment, optimized for accessibility and constructed from sustainable materials. It features a Spacenet Climber, a Roller Table, an Evos play structure, a Curved Track Ride, a Sway Fun and other equipment to inspire safe and imaginative play for a wide-range of ages and abilities.
Funding for the new playground was made possible through private donations including
an Innovative Grant from the Edina Ed Fund, fundraising efforts, and corporate
sponsorships including M|A|Peterson Design/build Inc., who managed the design and
construction of the project.
“We have called Edina home for 24 years, and are proud to contribute our design and building expertise to the new Cornelia school playground,” said Dave Peterson, vice president of M|A|Peterson Design/build Inc., a home remodeling and landscape design/build firm. “Many of our clients and employees live in or are a part of this community, and we know the playground will be a lasting legacy for the children and everyone in the neighborhood.”
“Thanks to our generous sponsors and all the Cornelia families who donated money and volunteered their time, the new playground will give our students and neighbors decades of creative, inclusive fun,” said Holden. “We are truly grateful to everyone who helped make this project a reality.”
Learn More:
A Playground for All, The Mill blog
Community Satisfies Appetite for Destruction, Patch.com