The Learning Center Playground Project
It’s time for a new playground!
The Need
The census at The Learning Center (TLC) for young children with Autism at Northeast Arc has doubled over the last few years.
Normal wear and tear on outdated play surfaces and structures was exacerbated last year by unusual storm-related flooding that also damaged the building. As a result, the existing playground is insufficient to support the emotional, cognitive and physical development of our expanded group of participants.
The Plan
We are asking for your help with a $494,035 project to replace the existing playground and to prevent future flood damage to both the building and the play area. Thanks to the funders listed at the bottom of the page, we have passed the halfway point! We are now pushing to reach the 75% mark. Your gift today will help us stay on track to begin construction this fall.
For more information, please contact Susan Ring Brown at sringbrown@ne-arc.org or call 978-924-5211.
Designed Specifically for Our Kids
Children on the Autism spectrum are at higher risk for anxiety and depression than their neurotypical peers.
Playing outdoors offers them opportunities to burn off energy and to develop the ability to manage their behaviors, to learn turn-taking skills, to pick the activity of greatest interest to them, to increase motor skills and balance, and to make friends. Sensory elements for the new playground will help children with self-regulation so they feel at ease and open to learning.
Work to be done includes demolition of the existing play structure and preparation of the site, with excavation for stormwater management to prevent flooding. The existing mulch and sand playground surfaces will be replaced with a poured rubber surface on top of a 4 inch sub-base, on top of eight inches of crushed stone designed to cushion the impact of a fall, providing a more sanitary and easier to maintain surface. All three play areas will have a deep layer of crushed stone to facilitate drainage, and new fencing.
Features
🏀 The new playground was designed by a professional who is also the mother of a son with Autism.
⚽ The main slide and climbing structure will feature a transfer point for children using wheelchairs to access
⚾ It will be topped with a sail cover to offer shade and protection from the elements
🏐 A pirouette standing spinner, a xylophone and a communication board will also be added to the area.
🥎 A crawl tube and series of sensory panels (Puppet Stage, Window Panel, Dinosaur Panel, Critter Puzzle Panel, and
Chime Panel), and a Bird Nest Swing will be added to the infant/toddler area
🏈 The bike riding area will be repaved and feature a funnel-shaped ball toss
About The Learning Center at Northeast Arc
The Learning Center, located at 6 Southside Road in Danvers, supports children with Autism age 15 months to six years old. TLC offers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in a community child-care setting with an integrated center model. It is a place where children of varying abilities develop important social, emotional, and developmental skills. By providing this early, intensive support, children are more prepared for the transition to school. Enrollment is funded through health insurance, with about half of the children covered by MassHealth.
See the Vision for the New Playground
Thank you to the following individuals,
corporations, and foundations that have
made a gift to the Learning Center Playground
$50,000+
Boston Bruins Foundation
Ted English
Knights of Columbus, Massachusetts State Council
Rock the Spectrum Foundation
$10,000 – $49,999
Italian Community Center of Beverly
PLAN of MA & RI
Salah Foundation
$1,000 – $9,999
Carol Conway
Danvers Kiwanis Foundation
Allison Dolan
Franklin Sports
Pia and Matthew Freeley
Peabody Knights of Columbus, Leo Council No. 508
$999 and under
Pauline Butler
Kathy Consigli
Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc.
Joanne & Kevin Freeley
Tom and Sharon Gould
Marilyn E. Hazel
Mary Kaminski
Chris Kaminski
Rep Sally Kerans
Sandra Lane
Committee to Elect Joan Lovely
Alan Mallas
Laurie Mallas
Kathryn Mallas
Nelson Medrano
Felise Obrien
John & Liz Sacramone
Ted and June Speliotis
Ashley Speliotis
James Speliotis
Konstantina Speridakos
Thomas P. Walsh
Marissa Zolotas
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