Nativity Elementary Playground Renovation

Since 1961, Nativity Elementary School continues to provide its students and families with a rich blend of quality education and spiritual enhancement. It is this quality education that addresses the student's mental, social, spiritual and physical well-being.

Affirming this education within its mission statement, the Nativity PTO Board examined the condition of the 20+-year-old outdoor playground equipment and playground area in 2007 and assessed that the equipment has exceeded its lifespan and was in need of replacement. By Fall 2009, a $40,000 play structure was installed and funded by the Nativity School PTO and community.

Running concurrent to the Phase I project (play structure), it was further assessed the playground area needed to be advanced to meet the exercise and fitness needs of the Nativity students through additional fitness stations and sport court. On April 23, 2009, the Nativity PTO Board recommissioned the Playground Renovation Committee to further investigate the possibility of implementing a Phase II component of the playground renovation process.

Following committee investigation/meeting through the summer of 2009, the Nativity Playground Renovation Committee presented their Phase II initial proposal to the Nativity PTO Board on Monday, September 14, 2009. The PTO Board unanimously approved the proposal.

With regards to a Phase II process of the Nativity playground area, the Nativity Playground Renovation Committee was charged with the following three goals and initiatives:

Please refer to Attachments/Other Supporting Materials (a. Nativity Playground Renovation/Addition Proposal Update) for further supporting information.

The overall impact will be the enhanced physical education and fitness of the overall Nativity Elementary School community. Projected to the potential lifespan of the play structure, fitness stations and sport court (26+ years), this Phase II project will impact the physical well-being of over 9000 students (350 students per year), as well as the surrounding city community. This playground and its structures have been and will be open to the general city community year round.

Nativity physical education teachers will be utilizing all the equipment of the Phase II project to further advance the physical fitness of all Nativity elementary school students.

Long-term planning to sustain these materials and equipment through annual assessment and refurbishment/upgrade/replacement by the Nativity PTO Board.

Overall Playground Design - Composite examples and placement of the additional fitness stations and sport court

Overall Playground Design - Phase II: Area A is designated as a sports court ; Area B is designated as the fitness station area.

The Nativity Playground Renovation Committee presents the following proposal for consideration:

It is proposed that the Nativity Playground Renovation Committee be given the authority to pursue the following immediate initiatives:

Initiate discussions so as to provide a final design to the Nativity PTO Board for the Phase II process of the Nativity Playground (refer to Proposed 2010 Playground Renovation Space, p. 14), not to exceed $40,000. Should the final design exceed this stated amount, the Committee must forward all recommendations to the Nativity PTO Board for final revision and approval before the project can continue;
Upon approval of a final design by the Nativity PTO Board and the ability of Sports Court of Fargo (Deckmaster) and Dakota Fence to work within the given timeline, the Committee will work to complete installation of the new playground play station by the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year;
Involve the Nativity community for the remainder of the academic year and through the summer of 2010 so as to secure volunteers for the installation phase of the new playground area, so as to reduce overall labor costs;
Develop a communal celebration so as to unveil the new playground area to the Nativity community at the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year;
Due to the initiation of a potential Phase II process of the Nativity playground renovation, the remaining balance of the current FCSN loan be paid in full no later than the end of September 2009.
A new proposed FCSN repayment plan (based on a $40,000 loan amount) be developed between the FCSN Superintendent, Nativity School Principal, Nativity PTO President and Treasurers and Nativity Playground Renovation Committee Chair. This repayment plan would go into effect on May 1st of the year following the completion of Phase II installation and be paid in full by May 31, 2015.
It is proposed that the Playground Renovation Committee and the Nativity PTO work with the FCSN Development Staff in the identification of potential donor(s) toward a smaller portion of the Phase II process, as well as identifying and securing potential donors for materials such as concrete, pea rock, wood chips, etc. needed to complete the Phase II process.