GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – GRPS celebrated the opening of four fully accessible playgrounds on the first day of school, marking a significant step forward in the district’s ongoing efforts to create inclusive spaces where all scholars can play, move, and learn together.
“Today we celebrate an incredible summer of progress, building four new playgrounds at elementary schools across our city where all of our scholars can come together,” Superintendent Dr. Leadriane Roby said during the ribbon cutting celebration.
New playgrounds were installed this summer at César E. Chávez Elementary School, Gerald R. Ford Academic Center, Kent Hills Elementary School, and Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy.
Designed to be fully accessible, the playgrounds allow scholars of all abilities to safely participate in outdoor play and physical activity together. Features include inclusive play equipment, accessible surfaces, and thoughtfully designed spaces that encourage movement, interaction, and collaboration. Scholar and staff input at each school inspired the final playground designs.
“This new playground is a place where everyone will get to play, explore, and have fun together,” said Riley Ezell, an eighth grader at Gerald R. Ford Academic Center. “That’s what makes this playground so special. Everyone belongs here. Everyone gets to be part of the fun.”
The playgrounds at César E. Chávez Elementary, Kent Hills Elementary, and Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy were funded through the Reimagine GRPS with Us! bond approved by voters in 2023.
The playground at Ford Academic Center was made possible through community donations raised through a campaign led by the GRPS Foundation, along with supplemental funding from the Reimagine GRPS with Us! bond. Community volunteers also played a hands-on role in bringing the project to life, building the playground at Ford over three days in July.
“We are so incredibly grateful to our community for building this new playground for our scholars,” said Denishea Neal-Killingham, Principal at Gerald R. Ford Academic Center. “The impact that this playground will have is significant.”
“To our entire city, thank you for consistently showing up to support public education in Grand Rapids,” said Board of Education Secretary Amber Kilpatrick. “When all of these groups come together, you show our kids that they matter. You show them that their community is here for them. You show them that they deserve spaces where they can grow and be themselves.”
“I am so grateful to every donor, big and small, who believed in this project, and to the incredible volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and helped bring it to life,” said GRPS Foundation President & CEO Stephanie Andrews. “Thank you for believing that our kids deserve a beautiful place to play, imagine, belong, and just be kids.”
Donors included Applied Innovation, Barbara Gerson Family, Behler-Young, Carol Paine-McGovern, Dr. Khan and Liza Nedd, Grand Rapids Gold, Jim and Sue Williams, KRW Foundation, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Mary and John Williams, Mercantile Bank, Steve Faber and Elizabeth Williams, and Tim and Karen O'Donovan.
“It's a powerful moment,” said Misti Stanton, President of the GRPS Foundation Board and First Vice President of Talent and Culture at Mercantile Bank. “This was truly a community effort. This was our staff at Gerald R. Ford, our parents, community folks just around here in this neighborhood that helped make this come to life.”
“This space now belongs to the kids,” said Matt Cook, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Lake Michigan Credit Union. “We hope it is filled with laughter, friendship, imagination, and countless moments of joy. Thank you for allowing LMCU to be part of this incredible project, and congratulations to everyone who helped make it happen.”
