Carmel, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham visited Kent Primary School and Matthew Paterson Elementary School to celebrate the addition of new inclusive playground equipment at both schools, made possible in part by a $100,000 State Senate grant he secured for the Carmel Central School District.

“Students of all abilities deserve the joy of play, the freedom to explore, and the opportunity to build lasting memories with their friends,” said Sen. Harckham. “Inclusive playgrounds help ensure every child can enjoy these experiences, and I was proud to secure the funding needed to provide Carmel students with accessible recreational spaces where they can play, connect with their peers, and create meaningful memories without barriers.”

Matthew Paterson Elementary received a new play structure featuring a slide, climbing ropes at two different heights, and a canvas platform. Kent Primary School received two new pieces of equipment: an interactive play station featuring a large xylophone and maze, and a low-to-the-ground circular spinning platform with protective netting to help prevent falls.

“Outdoor space and playgrounds are part of the larger instructional setting,” said Superintendent Michael Plotkin. “Making those spaces accessible to all students is part of our district mission in that we want to help our students grow and develop skills that will be applicable to the twenty-first century. Those skills can be found both in the classroom and on the playground.”

“This new equipment is a great start to our vision to grow a playground structure that is all inclusive,” said Matthew Paterson Principal Jennifer Darling. “We were able to get a good start with this, and we will continue building on it in the future. Thank you to Senator Harckham for his help in making this possible.”

“Kent Primary School is thankful for the new adaptive playground equipment because it gives all students, including those with disabilities, the opportunity to play, learn, and have fun together,” said Kent Primary Principal Vincent Fino. “The new equipment helps create an inclusive playground where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to participate.”

The funding was awarded through the Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) program, one of several State Senate grant programs administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) to support community and economic development initiatives.

Since taking office in 2019, Harckham has secured more than $40 million in State Senate grant funding for municipalities and nonprofit organizations throughout the 40th Senate District.