Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Associate Vice President, Marketing Communications, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

9/30/09
Story by Peggy Graham

JCCC dedicates new outdoor play area for child development

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Adults think it’s child’s play, but experts in early childhood education like Sara McElhenny, director, Hiersteiner Child Development Center, know that outdoor activities develop socialization, fine and large motor skills, imagination, use of the senses, respect for nature and cognitive skills.

Construction of new outdoor play area at the Hiersteiner Child Development Center at JCCC.

The Hiersteiner Child Development Center will dedicate its new outdoor play area at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, on the west side of campus, filled with nature-based outdoor learning centers designed by landscape architects Bowman Bowman Novick. In celebration, the children will blow bubbles, play musical instruments and offer thank yous to benefactors.

The child in all of us will have a chance to view the outdoor play area’s fun elements like water play features, embankment slides, musical instruments, tire swing, hollow log and wooden playhouse.

Safety was a primary consideration in design, as well as physical issues like accessibility, privacy, drinking fountains and protection from the sun and wind. The play area is divided into three age groups.

“This is going to be a good learning environment for children, full of things to do,” McElhenny said.

The old play area was 19 years old, and the new space has been a dream of parents and HCDC teachers for about four years. Early fundraisers included t-shirt and HCDC cookbook sales and faculty/staff gifts. The project catapulted with $296,000 from the 2008-09 JCCC budget and $20,000 from the M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Foundation.

Demolition of the site took place in February, thanks to the donated services of McAnany Construction. Donations are still needed to realize a full wish-list of amenities like prairie shades, net climber, willow hide-a-ways, small gardens in each play area and the top priority — a rubberized surface that is softer and, in the long term, less maintenance than the alternative, engineered mulch.

“I want children to enjoy the outdoors, to know who lives out there, and how to take care of it. Children need to get away from the computer and television and use their imaginations,” McElhenny said.

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editor’s note: The media and public are invited to attend the dedication.