James John K-2 Playground
Tax deductible
KIDS PLAY HERE
100 kids per recess
2-3 times a day
180 days a year
James John K-2 playground today
What happened.
In Spring 2017, most of the playground equipment on the James John K-2 playground was deemed unsafe and no longer fixable. The school district removed the broken play structures, which is good, but put nothing in their place, which is sad.
A year later, the situation remains the same: three old-fashioned structures float aimlessly in a vast sea of wet wood chips, dirt and debris.
Kids are turned off. Teachers see problems. Everybody loses.
The problem is systemic.
Portland Public Schools is not funding playgrounds at this time. It is unclear when that will change. Given this, the PPS Facility Department has no choice but to "remove but not replace" broken playground equipment -- like ours.
With no budget allocations, the responsibility for funding such improvements is left up to each school and its supporters. Schools from affluent communities generally fair best in this scenario.
James John is a Title 1A school with a $40,382 annual operating budget. 94% of its population is Economically Underprivileged; 29% of students are English Language Learners; and 25% are considered Mobile students. 14 languages are spoken on our campus.
Poor drainage leads to mud when it rains
A bygone era.
The James John K-2 playground is old-fashioned. It requires preparation before the installation of new playground equipment and surfacing. This means the removal of old materials and soil, followed by the addition of a simple drainage system. Old concrete also needs replacement, and we must add ADA ramps into the play zone, in order to meet accessibility standards.
Not ADA-friendly: crumbling concrete and poorly-maintained surfacing
We've got a plan (hint: it involves you)
We will raise the money needed to do this thing, one playground hero at a time.
And that's where you come in -- you, and your network, and your passionate extension of yourself on our behalf. The James John community is working double-time to make this dream a reality.
And that dream is simply: for kids from a poor school to have a nice place to play
But the dream has also grown. It has blossomed into the need to show the children of James John that sometimes we have to get ingenious to get what we need. We have to work differently, band together, and bring all our resources to bear. And there is honor and solidarity in doing so. Join us.
James John's K-2 playground of the future:
Fun new equipment, new surfacing, and a welcoming spot to sit
Reality bites.
Playgrounds are expensive. We wish they weren't, but they are. The cost for a modest new playground for James John is approximately $55,000. These funds will cover the preparation of the site and the purchase and installation of new equipment and Engineered Wood Fiber surfacing.
Creating a safe, truly accessible space for all children to use, despite ability, is important to the James John community,... but sadly, it is a costly portion of this project. Therefore, depending on the success of our fund raising, we will either add the [most affordable] Engineered Wood Fiber surfacing or the [highest-grade] ADA-accessible rubber surfacing. It is our hope that we can "go the distance", and get the ADA surfacing. But realistically, it just may not be possible, as it doubles the cost of this project. Still, despite these financial challenges, Equity and Access remain core aspects of James John's identity and teachings.
We proudly promote awareness and appreciation for all individual differences and we embrace every diversity.
And we mean it. Play is for everyone, at every age, and every level of ability.
Join us.
100 kids per recess
2-3 times a day
180 days a year
James John K-2 playground today
What happened.
In Spring 2017, most of the playground equipment on the James John K-2 playground was deemed unsafe and no longer fixable. The school district removed the broken play structures, which is good, but put nothing in their place, which is sad.
A year later, the situation remains the same: three old-fashioned structures float aimlessly in a vast sea of wet wood chips, dirt and debris.
Kids are turned off. Teachers see problems. Everybody loses.
The problem is systemic.
Portland Public Schools is not funding playgrounds at this time. It is unclear when that will change. Given this, the PPS Facility Department has no choice but to "remove but not replace" broken playground equipment -- like ours.
With no budget allocations, the responsibility for funding such improvements is left up to each school and its supporters. Schools from affluent communities generally fair best in this scenario.
James John is a Title 1A school with a $40,382 annual operating budget. 94% of its population is Economically Underprivileged; 29% of students are English Language Learners; and 25% are considered Mobile students. 14 languages are spoken on our campus.
Poor drainage leads to mud when it rainsA bygone era.
The James John K-2 playground is old-fashioned. It requires preparation before the installation of new playground equipment and surfacing. This means the removal of old materials and soil, followed by the addition of a simple drainage system. Old concrete also needs replacement, and we must add ADA ramps into the play zone, in order to meet accessibility standards.
Not ADA-friendly: crumbling concrete and poorly-maintained surfacingWe've got a plan (hint: it involves you)
We will raise the money needed to do this thing, one playground hero at a time.
And that's where you come in -- you, and your network, and your passionate extension of yourself on our behalf. The James John community is working double-time to make this dream a reality.
And that dream is simply: for kids from a poor school to have a nice place to play
But the dream has also grown. It has blossomed into the need to show the children of James John that sometimes we have to get ingenious to get what we need. We have to work differently, band together, and bring all our resources to bear. And there is honor and solidarity in doing so. Join us.
James John's K-2 playground of the future: Fun new equipment, new surfacing, and a welcoming spot to sit
Reality bites.
Playgrounds are expensive. We wish they weren't, but they are. The cost for a modest new playground for James John is approximately $55,000. These funds will cover the preparation of the site and the purchase and installation of new equipment and Engineered Wood Fiber surfacing.
Creating a safe, truly accessible space for all children to use, despite ability, is important to the James John community,... but sadly, it is a costly portion of this project. Therefore, depending on the success of our fund raising, we will either add the [most affordable] Engineered Wood Fiber surfacing or the [highest-grade] ADA-accessible rubber surfacing. It is our hope that we can "go the distance", and get the ADA surfacing. But realistically, it just may not be possible, as it doubles the cost of this project. Still, despite these financial challenges, Equity and Access remain core aspects of James John's identity and teachings.
We proudly promote awareness and appreciation for all individual differences and we embrace every diversity.
And we mean it. Play is for everyone, at every age, and every level of ability.
Join us.
Fundraising team: James John PTA (2)
Amy Occhialino
Organizer
Portland, OR
PTA Oregon Congress (James John Pta)
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
Noelle Guest
Team member
