by Jennifer Reece

Reporter

Hudson -- Students at Ellsworth Hill Elementary School can now spend their recess climbing a rock wall, mastering the monkey bars and swinging with their friends.

A new state-of-the-art playground was installed last month at the new school using a $200,000 grant from the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation.

"We would never have been able to do this without the foundation," said Ellsworth Hill Elementary Principal Doreen Osmun. "I can't stress enough how wonderful the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation has been."

Osmun said the playground is designed with many ramps and has adaptive play pieces, which make it accessible to all children, including those with disabilities. It was selected with help from a committee and with input from the foundation, Osmun said.

She said the children have been having a terrific time learning about all the parts of the playground.

"They are creating play within the playground structure," Osmun said.

Although Ellsworth Hill Elementary, which houses second-grade and preschool students, opened in August, the playground was delayed for several reasons, including that some pieces of the equipment that initially came in were not correct.

"We had no intention for it to open in mid-November," Osmun said. "The goal was the start of school. But it was really worth the wait. It really is a premier playground."

The playground is geared toward the second-graders, though Osmun said preschoolers are having a lot of fun with it, too. She said the community also will get a lot of enjoyment from the school's latest asset.

"It is not just for the school," Osmun explained. "It is for the community."

She said the children have been busy writing thank-you notes to the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation. They've also made a huge card that all of the students plan to sign to show their appreciation to the Foundation, Osmun said.

E-mail: jreece@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3145