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Normal wear and tear on outdated play surfaces and structures was exacerbated last year by unusual storm-related flooding that also damaged the building.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, part of the existing playground is unusable and the rest 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 $625,000 project to replace the existing playground and to prevent future flood damage to both the building and the play area. Parents of children previously supported at TLC and other moms of children with Autism raised the first $50,000 toward the project. Our goal is to raise another $200,000 this winter to become eligible to apply for funds from two prior donors who require us to be past the 50% mark before requesting their support.

For more information, please contact Susan Ring Brown at sringbrown@ne-arc.org or call 978-924-5211.

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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 other

🏐 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.