LAKE PLACID — Safety updates and repairs to the Lake Placid Elementary School playground are partially complete.
"We've got it about half open right now," Lake Placid Central School District Superintendent Dr. Randy Richards said this week.
"There are some areas we can't do anything with because the ground is frozen."
The outdoor recess grounds at Paw Print Park closed last November after two students were injured in separate incidents.
A kindergartner fractured facial bones, and a fourth-grade student broke an ankle tripping over a rock on the school playground.
Both students have returned to their classes.
STANDARD DESIGN
But a hazard inspection done through the School District's insurance company showed several areas needing repair, improvement or removal.
The report suggests any feature not in compliance with Consumer Products Safety Commission standards be brought up to code or taken down.
Paw Print Park is a self-designed, natural playground made with local wood and materials, intended to deliver an outdoor-recess experience based on Adirondack-themed features.
The survey conducted by risk-management associates with the school's insurance company said it does not recommend "self-built playgrounds," preferring instead that schools use equipment qualified by the Safety Commission.
"In the severe climate of the Adirondacks, with frequent rain, snow and frost, the likelihood of slips and falls is increased along with accelerated deterioration of native materials," the safety inspection said.
ROCKS IN FALL ZONE
A number of other concerns were raised in the report.
For instance, inspection found that children were climbing a teepee-shelter feature — a simple row of sticks leaned against a ridge pole — to reach the top beams.
It is, the safety report said, a "protrusion/impalement hazard," observing that "log surfaces can become slippery when wet and create a fall hazard."
Swing-set chains were found to be rusty and worn, and rocks placed near the slide and other playground features were located within the "fall zone," where students could land on them if they took a tumble.
PRIORITies set
In addition, insurance inspectors found "the zip line is constructed with used and off-the-shelf materials with no approved design, testing, safety or use instructions. Failures of the equipment have been reported, and the potential for continued equipment failure and falls are high."
The zip line was given Priority Status 1, meaning "any condition (that) is life-threatening or can cause severe permanent disability."
Log see-saws, the teepee shelter, the swings, the sliding pole and the parallel climber were all given Priority Status 1 due to components or heights that presented a safety hazard, according to the insurance company's report.
FIXED PINCH POINTS
Cushioning material on the ground meant to protect the kids in a fall was also found inadequate.
"The current base has no performance data or certification that it is approved for use," the safety report said.
School officials formed a team of staff, teachers and parents with the Lake Placid Friends committee to assess safety measures, along with writing a playground policy to foster staff training and ongoing maintenance.
What school officials and the parents' Friends Committee can do to improve safety at this point is complete.
Some of the features are frozen into place and cannot be addressed until spring.
"We took the stand with the fireman's (sliding) pole and blocked off one end of it," Richards said. "The kids can walk on the ramp, but they can't go down the pole.
"There were some chains cited as pinch points, and we modified that — we went to a single chain instead of a double chain. We bought new swing seats and new chains for the swing-sets. We moved rocks away from the fall zone. We took the zip line down but that is on part of the playground that is closed off right now. We're about halfway home in this process."
PERSONNEL TRAINING
The Friends Committee also bought outdoor winter equipment to provide options.
"Students are alternating days on the playgrounds. While some students use the open playground area, other kids are out there sledding on the side hill," Richards said.
"Between the balls, the sledding and the playground area that is open, the kids are still getting a pretty good recess experience."
The school is still working with the insurance company to provide training for recess attendants and for maintenance personnel.
Richards said they are not sure if other parts of the playground will have to come down.
"We want to be exactly sure what the safety inspectors will allow and what they won't. One thing we're going to address is the ground cover," Richards said.
"We've discussed using more of a bark product. The community wants to keep it as eco-friendly as possible."
Email Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com
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