Nolan says that his sister, Juniper Adkisson, is the most popular kid at Sumpter Elementary School. Children are always coming up to her wheelchair to say hi. But every day, Juniper’s classmates have to choose between standing on the blacktop with her or playing on the playground, because her d isabilities prevent her from using Sumpter’s current equipment.  SIGN UP: Salem Reporter is dedicated to covering the people, issues, and stories that shape our community. Stay connected to Salem. Subscribe today. It’s hard for Juniper to build and maintain friendships with her peers when there’s such a clear physical divide at recess, according to Hailey Adkisson, Juniper’s mother. “These are the peers that are going to be with her ideally though high school, so these relationships that she builds now are so important,” Adkisson said.  Do you have questions about Salem-Keizer Public Schools? Are there education topics we should be covering? We want to hear from you. Contact reporter Eddy Binford-Ross: [email protected] or 503-400-5654. When Juniper started at Sumpter last fall as a kindergartener, the adults around her began to realize that there was nothing for her to play with during recess. Adkisson and members of the Parent-Teacher Club are now fundraising to install an accessible playground.  The new inclusive playground will cost more than $300,000. The PTC has raised approximately $50,000 so far, with plans for more fundraising this fall, Adkisson said.  Nowhere to play  The Sumpter playground is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but Juniper can’t use any of it.  Bark chips, which her wheelchair can’t roll through at all, form the surface under several pieces of equipment. One of the covered basketball courts is surrounded by grass and a curb, depriving Juniper of shade or cover from bad weather. “Something can legally meet ADA requirements,” Adkisson said, “but the benchmarks are so low. It’s the bare minimum.” Juniper Adkisson (left) and her mom Hailey Adkisson enter the Sumpter Elementary School playground using the playground entrance accessible by wheelchair. (BROOK FERRIS/Salem Reporter) The rubber tiles beneath the main play structure are worn and uneven, easily catching the tires of Juniper’s wheelchair. When someone does push her to the actual playground, Juniper can be lifted onto one of the lower platforms, but accessing the rest would require using stairs or a ladder.  “Real accessible equipment allows people to walk on it and for people to have their wheelchairs on it,” Adkisson said.  Adkisson said it’s clear Juniper wants to spend time with her friends at school, and they want to spend time with her. She was non-verbal before starting at Sumpter. Now, Juniper has learned to say hey and hi because so many of her peers communicate with her.  But at recess, when her classmates run to the playground, Juniper is often left sitting on the blacktop or in the library with her aide.  For the greater community Juniper is one of two students at Sumpter who use a wheelchair, however, the parents involved in the fundraising effort emphasized that an accessible playground would benefit many. Students with balance, coordination and gait issues also struggle with the playground’s uneven surfaces or lack of ground-level enrichment opportunities.  “Every kid we’ve shown the design to has been like, ‘Wow!’” Adkisson said. “Accessible playgrounds are cool.” The school is open to the wider community after hours as well, according to Jami Nelson, a Sumpter parent involved in the fundraising.  “If a child has a family member who might have a disability or something, it will give them an opportunity to play on the playground together,” Nelson said.  Juniper Adkisson parked at the portion of the Sumpter School Playground that is wheelchair accessible. Behind her, children from around the neighborhood ride bikes. (BROOK FERRIS/Salem Reporter) A Sumpter-wide effort The parents originally approached Salem-Keizer Public Schools about the playground, but in a tough financial year, the district didn’t have the money to support the project. Inclusive infrastructure is often expensive, Adkisson said.  The district agreed to sign off on the design for an inclusive playground, as long as the PTC raised the money. A Sumpter family volunteered to design and install the playground at a steep discount from the first quote they received: $425,000, according to Jillian Herbes, another parent.  Since then, the parents have raised approximately $50,000 through grants, community donations and the PTC’s general fund. For one of their fundraisers they hosted a garage sale with donations from school families.  Students have started to get involved as well.  Hailey Adkisson (left) and her daughter Juniper Adkisson share a laugh at The Sumpter Elementary School playground. (BROOK FERRIS/Salem Reporter) “They understand that not all of their friends can access the playground, and they don’t feel good about that,” Herbes said. “I think maybe the biggest part of all of this is really teaching the kids why this matters.” One of those students is Nelson’s daughter, Aspen. Aspen became Juniper’s best friend when the two were paired up during a music class in the fall.  Nelson didn’t tell Aspen about the PTC’s fundraising at first, in an effort to not get her hopes up.  “She brought it up to me one day and she was like, ‘Did you know that Juni doesn’t get to go outside for recess?’” Nelson said. “I was like ‘Well, what do you mean?’ And she goes ‘Well, she can go outside, but there’s nothing for her to do outside.’” Nelson told Aspen then that they were working to raise money for an inclusive playground and Aspen jumped right in, decorating popsicle sticks and selling them.  Aspen’s older brother has also joined, collecting cans and plastic water bottles for recycling money. Juniper Adkisson (left) and her brother Nolan Goplen admire the outdoor scenery at the Sumpter Elementary School playground. (BROOK FERRIS/Salem Reporter) Looking toward the future One of the parents’ focuses has been making the community aware of the barriers, Nelson said.  Sumpter is one of Oregon’s only Unified Champion elementary schools. These are titles given to schools that provide opportunities for students with and without disabilities to participate in activities together.  “They look at it as, ‘Well, you’re a Unified school and you guys have children with physical and other disabilities. So why is this even a thing? Like why is there already not a playground? Why can’t she already play on it?’” Nelson said.  Going forward, the parents plan to apply for more grants, connect with businesses across Salem for support and reach out to the community beyond Sumpter families, because of the playground’s public status, Nelson said. They’ve also launched a fundraising site through Unlimited Play, a nonprofit that works to support inclusive playgrounds nationally.  Adkisson knows they won’t be able to raise $300,000 overnight, or perhaps even within the coming year. While their efforts continue, Adkisson is optimistic that the district will provide some type of equipment for Juniper to use with other students this fall, such as a parachute.  Nolan Goplen (left), his sister Juniper Adkisson, and mom Hailey Adkisson at the Sumpter Elementary School playground. (BROOK FERRIS/Salem Reporter) Ultimately, all three of the moms said this effort goes beyond Juniper.  They hope their advocacy will encourage the district to keep students with physical disabilities in mind during future playground renovations, adding some equipment that they can access.  “Hopefully this inspires other schools in the area to take a step back, look at your playground and say, ‘Are all kids able to use this space?’” Herbes said. Contact reporter Eddy Binford-Ross: [email protected] or 503-400-5654. The post Parents, community members raise money for accessible playground at Salem elementary school appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less