MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CITY OF MEDFORD TO HOST MCGLYNN PLAYGROUND RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8

Members of the Public are Invited to Celebrate and, Most Importantly, Play on the New Playground Following the Ceremony. 

Photo of the McGlynn Elementary School Playground (Credit: Chenine Peloquin)

MEDFORD—Medford Public Schools and the City of Medford will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the McGlynn Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 8, beginning at 3:30 p.m. to celebrate the opening of our new, universally accessible playground. Members of the public are invited to celebrate and, most importantly, play on the new playground following the ceremony. 

The universally accessible playground, with consultation, design, and construction input from Copley-Wolff Design Group, The Playful Pelican, the Perkins School for the Blind, the Massachusetts Office on Disability, and Quirk Construction, will provide countless types of play opportunities for children of all abilities. The park consists of separate preschool and elementary play areas for students in Pre-K to Grade 5. It features an inclusive, non-transfer wheelchair swing and spinner; a fully accessible and curriculum-aligned outdoor classroom; a multi-use field; musical instruments; and a stage area among other playground equipment. 

Dedicated to the memory of Emelly DeOliveira, a young Medford resident with disabilities who loved music, dancing, and the color pink (1998-2013), the playground meets and goes beyond federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards in order to provide meaningful opportunities for all students to play together.

“I am beyond amazed at the level of thought and care that went into the planning, design, and execution of the beautiful McGlynn Elementary School playground,” said Medford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent. “Having such an inclusive space at the McGlynn to serve our students, teachers and community members is a dream come true. I want to thank the McGlynn Playground Committee, Dr. Peter J. Cushing, Mayor Lungo-Koehn, the Medford School Committee, our consultation and design partners, and all those who helped create this outdoor, universally accessible space for all.” 

Play equipment was selected based on student feedback and to ensure age-appropriate challenges throughout a student’s time at the school. A tree favored by the students was preserved and given special placement, and 66 new native trees were added to provide increasing shade over time. Teacher expertise proved invaluable for placement of features, supervision strategies, and planning for safety while providing for challenge. Some particularly thoughtful details include high-contrast designs on the rubber surface to alert students with visual impairments that they are entering a motion zone or approaching an elevation change, the playground being elevated 12” higher and with a full drainage system to prevent flooding, and even the inclusion of boulders repurposed from Carr Park Phase I. 

"This new universally accessible playground is the culmination of so much incredible work from our school department, city staff, the Planning Committee, accessibility advocates, and the Medford school community," Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said. "Our students and families deserve to have inclusive spaces that feel welcoming and meet the needs of our community. I'm thrilled that we now have such an immersive play area that serves multiple purposes and enriches the educational experience at the McGlynn."

The $2.9 million project was funded through the Community Preservation Act (CPA), the Federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and a state earmark through the Department of Conservation and Recreation secured by State Representative Christine Barber. Medford Public School funding was not used for the design or construction process. Medford Public Schools and the City of Medford thank all those who donated to the project. 

"It's been a long time coming, but I'm super excited for all of our students to enjoy the McGlynn Inclusive Playground,” said McGlynn Elementary School Principal Andy O’Brien. “There are going to be so many smiling faces as the kids play, explore, run, hop, swing, slide,...you name it, you'll see the kids doing it! I can't thank Copley-Wolff, Quirk Construction, the city of Medford, and so many other contributors enough for making this amazing playground a reality." 

The redesign for the playground formally began in 2022 after the Copley-Wolff Design Group was selected to work with school and city officials to engage the public and the school community in discussions about what a new playground would look like. The collaborative feedback process, facilitated in large part by Medford resident and play consultant Chenine Peloquin of The Playful Pelican, included extensive engagement with current students, parents, teachers, school nurses, and specialists such as physical and occupational therapists. These discussions highlighted the need to create a meaningfully inclusive and accessible school playground that is safe and fun for all users.

“This playground is a shining example of how design is improved by involving the end users from the beginning, and I hope that our community will continue to prioritize the voices of children when we make decisions about the spaces they use,” said McGlynn Playground Committee Co-Chair Chenine Peloquin. “Recess is often the only time of day that truly belongs to children, and this playground honors the creativity and playfulness of all of Medford’s students. Assistant Superintendent Peter Cushing and I thank the students, the McGlynn Playground Committee, McGlynn and City staff (especially Amanda Centrella’s thoughtful coordination), and all of those who shared their ideas for helping to make this a reality. We look forward to seeing everyone on the playground!”

In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 3:30 p.m.

For press inquiries about this event, please contact Medford Public Schools Director of Communications Will Pipicelli.
(E): wpipicelli@medford.k12.ma.us
(P): 781-393-0599

If you need a reasonable accommodation to attend/participate in this event, please contact ADA Coordinator Frances Nwajei
(e): fnwajei@medford-ma.gov
(P): 781-393-2439
 
While the municipality will do its best to provide accommodations, certain accommodations require the hiring of outside contractors who may not be available if requested immediately before the event.