Hunter Bald, a kindergartener at Lake View Primary, had the honor of being the first student to try out the slippery slide on the school’s brand new playground equipment.

Work crews finished installing it in mid-May in the play area designated for kindergarten students. When it was opened, the students swarmed over it like bees on a clover field. 

This is the third set of such playground equipment that has been erected at Page United School District’s schools in the last year. Crews also built one on the area of Lake View’s grounds used by the first and second graders, and one of Desert View’s playground. 

The new structures feature towers, slides, bridges, firemen poles, climbing nets and other features to ignite a child’s imagination. The structures also include overhead shade panels to help keep the play areas cool.

The kids love the new equipment, Lake View Principal Brian Henderson said. 

Kids learn many important lessons and life skills in playground settings, but because it occurs in a fun space, it just feels like playtime with their friends, said Hattie Williams, Lake View first grade teacher.

“Teachers call it discovery learning,” Williams said. “They are learning to share and take turns. Learning how to communicate with each other and all of that is all important for a child’s social development and even their language skills. A lot of that occurs on the playground.”

During discovery learning, kids increase their dexterity as they move through the playground’s terrain, and they increase their confidence as they try new things, such as going down the tall slide for the first time. And for kids with active imaginations, the new playground can become a house, an island, a spaceship or any number of things.

“Our kids love the new equipment,” said Desert View Intermediate Principal Mary Stahl. “They love climbing on the net – it looks kind of like a spider web – and they love the new slide which is a lot taller and longer. It’s a big hit.”

The district views the purchase of the new playground equipment as a long-term investment in PUSD’s students, said PUSD Superintendent Bryce Anderson.

“Our students deserve the absolute best when they’re outside during their recess time,” Anderson said. “More than anything else, it’s about giving them memories that will be meaningful for the rest of their time with us.”

Outside play time is critical for a young students overall academic performance, Anderson said. “Having time to exercise and burn off some of that energy that they have is essential to supporting to what they’re doing in the classroom. The playground equipment we’ve had has served its purpose,” he said. “The new equipment is safer and is more meaningfully interactive.” 

The equipment is manufactured by BCI Burke Co. It’s the same brand the City of Page has put up in its parks. It’s high-quality and built to last several decades.

“It’s important as we look at our investments in the district and in our students that those investments are long-term investments and be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Anderson said. “Investing in high-quality equipment now will mean savings in the future as there will be lower maintenance costs.”