Children at Reynolds Elementary School turned on their imaginations today to design a new playground for their school. 

First they agreed on some rules – don’t run, don’t push, don’t chew gum, HAVE FUN!

Next, with crayons and markers in hand, each drew their dream playground.  Parents and surgeons from Tucson Orthopaedic Institute reviewed the designs and picked real playground equipment for a new site that will be constructed March 18th.

“This is really their dream design, not a ‘cookie cutter’ installation,” said Hope Deifell, project manager of the non-profit organization KaBOOM! that is working with the Tucson Orthopaedic Institute to coordinate the project. KaBOOM! envisions a great place to play within

walking distance of every child in America.

Lawrence R. Housman, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon with Tucson Orthopaedic Institute, explained, “We want to put our time and our money directly into helping kids have fun and stay healthy.”  The project is part of a national initiative led by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons to build safe playgrounds, and prevent the almost 500,000 injuries per year.

Reynolds Elementary, a TUSD school, serves 500 children.  Located near DMAFB, many of the students’ parents are active duty military, serving in the Middle East.