A Safe, Inclusive Playground for Every Child

-A Matter of Basic Equity and Taxpayer Accountability

 - Protecting Our Neurodivergent and Special Needs Students

A Call for Action:

As dedicated California taxpayers, our community contributes substantial tax revenues with the reasonable expectation that our public institutions will provide a secure, high-standard environment for our children. Yet, it is deeply unjust that children spending hours each day exposed to the elements on the school playground are denied the most fundamental necessities: a safe, hazard-free surface and adequate protection from intense weather and heat.

Our students are required to attend school day in and day out, spending precious hours on a playground that falls short of basic safety and comfort standards. This is an even more pressing concern for our vibrant community of special needs and neurodivergent children. For many of these students, sensory hypersensitivity & hyposensitivity  make standard environmental stressors exceptionally challenging.

The current wood fiber surface and intense heat create a compounding sensory burden. Wood chips frequently slip through shoes, causing physical pain and irritation, while extreme heat turns the play area into an exhausting environment. Because many neurodivergent children struggle to verbalize or express their discomfort, they are forced to endure physical pain and sensory overload in silence.

Investing in modern poured-in-place rubber surfacing and permanent shade structures isn't an extravagant luxury—it is a basic obligation to the families and taxpayers who fund this district, and a critical accessibility need to ensure every child can play safely, inclusively, and without distress. It is time for the city and the school district to prioritize our children's health, safety, and well-being where it matters most.