“Sand Creek Elementary School is raising funds to build the first barrier-free playground in the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

In the past year, the school has received $105,000 in commitments – one-third of its $300,000 goal.

Barrier-free playgrounds are accessible to all students, including those who use wheelchairs and walkers. Inclusive play allows everyone to be socially and emotionally engaged, physically active, stimulated in a sensory-rich environment, ever thinking and always communicating.

Principal Paul Anderson has been dreaming about a new playground at Sand Creek since an addition was built onto the school in 2014, allowing students with developmental cognitive disabilities to return to their neighborhood school.

“We believe that all students deserve equal access to our playground, and we look forward to each of our Sand Creek Stars being able to be included in a new barrier-free playground designed for everyone,” Anderson said.

Some of Sand Creek’s nearly 800 students are excluded from using the playground with disabilities and must travel more than 10 miles to access a barrier-free playground.”

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