Playground Project

The Newport Elementary School has two playgrounds that are used by nearly 500 students. The playgrounds have been used for many years and have become outdated and worn out. It is the goal of the NES PTO to provide the necessary improvements and purchase updated, inclusive equipment in order to meet the needs of our diverse student population and community. Providing a safe, fun, and active environment for children of all ages and abilities is our primary objective as a community playground.

It is typically necessary for special education students to have more inclusive equipment, and Newport's students and community are in need of this equipment. Perry County schools had an average number of students with special needs between 2014 and 2021, with 19.5% of these students coming from Newport School District. The Newport District is ranked among the top districts in the Capital Area Intermediate Unit, as well as the top district in the county. Moreover, it exceeds the statewide average of 17.09 percent. Newport is ideally situated within the county, surrounded by a high concentration of special education students, making it an ideal location for a community playground for special needs students.

In February 2022, PTO parents conceived the idea for the project. The brand-new playgrounds will be built with the assistance of a number of corporate and community partners, as well as grants. There has been an agreement to make the playgrounds available to the community.

To fund the playground effort, we are seeking corporate, community, and individual sponsors. The PTO is dedicated and will continue to work hard until our community's children have an inclusive playground where they can laugh, dream, and develop lifelong friendships. We hope that this trend will continue for a long time to come.

We invite you to join us in building "A Playground for the Community.”