Building the Alice Smith Playground (2002)
A Case Study In Leadership
The following summarizes Ellen Cousins' role in leading the charge for the Alice Smith Playground in 2002.
At the turn of the millenium, Ellen Cousins had two children attending Alice Smith Elementary and was president of its parent-teacher organization (PTO). Among the many efforts underway to support the school, one was missing: at recess, while most of the kids happily cavorted on the equipment, a minority was relegated to the sidelines. Those youth with mobility and other challenges were unable to navigate a traditional playground’s surfaces and equipment. Teachers had no additional capacity to provide custom activity. They were separated from their peers, sitting on the sidelines.
Ellen and her team got to work. They researched playground options, talked to experts, enlisted staff and parent input, wrote grant requests, fundraised and explored the Hopkins School District’s budgets and processes. Over the next two years, they outlined a proposal and vetted several vendors. They developed a funding plan (over $300,000) and made sure the requirements embraced all kids. Furthermore, they designed the project so it would be a recreation resource for the entire family.
With Kurt Nordness (Alice Smith principal) and Ann Aanestad (project deputy), the school district found funds to supplement the team’s fundraising.
Approvals were granted and construction started in the spring of 2002. Dozens of volunteers, guided by the vendor’s experts, built the new playground over several weekends and finished in June.
The looks on the kids’ faces as they walked, ran, wheeled and skated into the brand-new facility cemented the value of all the effort.
Word started to spread. Local media showcased the playground, and the calls started coming in from the metro, outstate and surrounding states. The calls asked two questions: (1) how can we start a project like this and (2) can my family come visit. Tears flowed once they arrived. “Thank you. Our family has never had a chance to play together this way.”
A need, a solution, a community, and a better world for our kids.
Dedicated September 5, 2002
The 50th Anniversary Playground Committee, which Ellen Chaired, organized a dedication on the evening of September 5, 2002 with a ribbon cutting, Magician and treats.
"One story really struck me," said Nordness. "The very first second-grader to go out (on the first day) had broken his leg and was in a wheelchair. But he was as excited as all of the other students and came out right with them. I wheeled him up to the top of the playgorund with his classmates. You should have seen the smile on his face."
Thanks are due to the community of Hopkins School District 270, district staff, teachers, students, and the many families of Alice Smith Elementary (both then and now).
Special thanks also to all of the volunteers and many donors for beleiving in the project and supporting it through their generous contributions!