It is common for city governments to work with schools to engage children in recreation and after-school programs. It is less common for a city to partner with an elementary school to overhaul its playground to benefit both the schoolchildren and the entire community. This is exactly what happened with Alpharetta Elementary School and the City of Alpharetta.

Alpharetta ES is unique in that students with mental and physical disabilities make up approximately 24% of the population. In the past, the students had an outdoor area that didn’t meet their physical needs and was in great need of repair. After discussing the matter with a teacher and a local nonprofit organization, North Metro Miracle League’s Executive Director Morgan Rodgers had an idea that would result in a successful collaboration.

“The partnership between the City, the Fulton County Board of Education, Resurgens Foundation, North Metro Miracle League, and Northside Hospital is a model in how corporations, nonprofits, and local government can work together to improve the lives of everyone in the community,” said Rodgers.

The City of Alpharetta’s parks team has created a new accessible playground that provides a safer and more inclusive experience for the children. The playground includes a wheelchair adaptive swing and upgraded trail surface as well as sensory environments and improved landscaping.

The school and the City entered into a 10-year agreement that permits the community to use the playground when school is not in session. Alpharetta ES’s playground is open to the public starting at 4:00pm on school days and through the weekend, with full access to the park’s amenities.