BRIDGEPORT -- Ground work is already underway for an update on an Elementary School playground designed to be all-inclusive.

Today, June 10, the project has almost met its funding goal.

In February of 2024, Bridgeport Elementary teacher Stacey Watts spoke with News Channel Nebraska about the project. The goal of the project is to design a safe place where all Bridgeport Elementary children can have fun together, regardless of physical challenges. Funding for the project is being committed probably faster than expected. Watts said today she has been working on it for several months.

The goal of upgrading the playground for preschool students started with her history working with young children.

"Well, I started this playground at the beginning of the year, hoping that I can raise money for the preschoolers. [I] just found out with a few extra donations I'm only about $3800 from reaching my goal," Watts said.

The project is budgeted at $62,000. Early in the project, Platte Valley Bank donated $10,000 to the cause. Watts said today an anonymous community donor offered a $25,000 matching grant. The hope is the incoming preschoolers will have a new playground. Ground has been broke for the new play area.

Watts was motivated by her history with children. The concept of the playground is to be all-inclusive: young children, children and adults with mobility challenges, and anyone in between.

"I've been in education for about 18 years, and a lot of it was fifth grade. So, this last year I moved down to preschool. I really wasn't familiar with the playground at that time, and realized really fast that my little four-year-olds had no where to play," she said.

 The goal of the project is to design a safe place where all Bridgeport Elementary children can have fun together, regardless of physical challenges. The playground will offer a place for friendships, a sense of community pride and most importantly, inclusion for all children.
 
"Another concept is we needed it to be inclusive so that if we do have a student that has a walker or strollers or an older child that needs an assisted swing ... everybody is able to play," she said.
 
 Donations can be mailed to Bridgeport Elementary School, 800 Q St., Bridgeport, NE 69336, ATT: Stacey Watts. The school is also accepting equipment and labor donations for the project.