Eden Prairie Schools families and staff attended a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event at the Little Eagles Playground on Sept. 24. Photo courtesy of Eden Prairie Schools
It’s been about two months since Eden Prairie Schools opened the Little Eagles Playground, a play area designed exclusively for children ranging in age from newborns to 5-year-olds.
The playground, located between EP Schools’ Administrative Services Center at 8100 School Road and the Community Education building at 8040 Mitchell Road, has been open since the start of the school year, with a special grand opening and ribbon-cutting event held on Sept. 24.
Mary Bartusek, an early learning coordinator for EP Schools, said this was a districtwide project to replace the previous playground with more age-appropriate equipment that is better suited for younger children. According to Bartusek, the old equipment was for 5- to 8-year-olds.
“There could be more injury,” Bartusek said. “We had to be very vigilant with our staff out there to make sure the kids were safe.”
The Little Eagles Playground includes a toddler area, turf that lets children crawl and pull themselves up onto equipment, smaller slides, and more ramp-based structures. Not only does this improve safety for young children, but it also better aligns with their developmental needs, including motor skills and social-emotional learning.
“We also consulted with our occupational therapists and our special education teachers to make sure that things were appropriate to serve that community, you know, those children with disabilities as well, to make sure that these were really good physical, appropriate practices for all children,” Bartusek said.
The Little Eagles Playground was designed specifically for children from birth to age 5. Photo courtesy of Eden Prairie Schools
The Little Eagles Playground follows EP Schools’ calendar and is open to the public during non-school hours, Bartusek said. She hopes families and their younger children, both inside and outside the district, will make use of the playground.
Kristy Hymans, an Eden Prairie parent who attended the grand opening event in September, said while the playground is best suited for those from birth to 5 years old, her 8-year-old son had just as much fun as her 3-year-old.
Hymans added that the Little Eagles Playground is a huge asset to the Eden Prairie community, specifically for parents with children in that age group.
“For families in Eden Prairie with younger-age children, that’s such a huge benefit to not just the school, but to the community as a whole. … It’s such a different experience as a parent to be able to relax and breathe knowing your children aren’t going to run off with the playground being fenced in,” Hymans said.
There will also be a larger community event showcasing the playground on May 1, called Family Fun Night. Bartusek said the event is meant to be family-oriented and will feature vendors, a silent auction, children’s activities and the opportunity to see inside the Community Education building, including the preschool rooms and Early Childhood Family Education area.
More information about Family Fun Night is coming soon. Learn more about Family Fun Night and other community events on the district’s website.