Parkview raising money for wheelchair playground equipment that costs $170,000

~ Some of the handicapped students have nothing to do but 'walk around in circles' at recess.

Two rusty swing sets, with three swings each, sit outside the Parkview State School for the Severely Handicapped.

The swing sets are ancient, said principal Melba Board. Some of the children can't use the swings because they aren't designed to accommodate wheelchairs.

When it's time for recess, some of the children just walk around the empty yard of the school.

For the past four years, Parkview's Parent Teacher Organization has been raising funds to pay for $170,000 of specialized playground equipment.

The group has raised $28,000 through various fund-raisers, including bake and yard sales.

As a public school serving approximately 40 children from five surrounding counties, money from the state is allocated towards education, Board said.

"We're not getting any funding for a playground, so the PTO has been very instrumental in raising money," she said.

PTO president Linda Rohde has an 11-year-old son with severe disabilities. He has attended Parkview State School since he was 5 years old.

"I feel like a playground is a big need for the school," Rohde said. "Many of the students love the outdoors and would thrive from the opportunity to swing and slide on a playground built with their needs in mind."

The PTO's vision of a playground includes wheelchair swings, slides, ramped pavilions and a basketball court.

"We want to have a playground designed for a child in a wheelchair to be able to just go," Rohde said.

As with any child attending a public school, recess is usually the child's favorite subject, Rohde said. "Right now, all these kids can do is walk around in circles outside."

Parkview State School's PTO is pursuing various grants to help fund the playground equipment.

"I can't even count the hours the PTO, especially Linda Rohde, has worked on trying to raise funds for this playground," Board said. "So far they've been very successful but it isn't enough."

State Rep. Nathan Cooper, R-Cape Girardeau, will tour the school today and the PTO plans to explain the need of a playground for the children.

"We want to get him actively involved and want him to be our voice," Rohde said. "He's never been here before and we hope that he will see how much these kids would benefit from a playground."

On Dec. 11, the Parkview State School will have a Christmas Raffle, which is the school's biggest fund-raising event, to raise money for the playground. More than 80 items have been donated from various businesses throughout the community to be raffled off. Tickets are $1 and can be purchased by contacting Board at (573) 290-5799.

Parkview State School for the Severely Handicapped serves elementary through high- school-aged students from Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Perry, Scott and Stoddard counties.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

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