Humble ISD invites families to a Playground Dedication and Open House from 5 to 6 p.m., Thursday, May 11, at River Pines Elementary School, 2400 Cold River Drive.
River Pines Elementary will celebrate its new rainforest-themed playground. The public is invited to a brief dedication ceremony at 5 p.m. on May 11. Students from River Pines Elementary will sing a song, the step team will perform and student leadership members will speak as a part of the ceremony. Tikiz Shaved Ice truck will also be on site.
River Pines Elementary is the fourth Humble ISD campus to debut an updated playground in the 2022-2023 school year. In October, Woodland Hills Elementary opened its fairytale-themed playground; in February, Park Lakes Elementary revealed its new safari-themed playground and in April, Elm Grove Elementary unveiled its treehouse-themed playground. This spring, the WHE playground was named one of the 10 Best Inclusive School Playgrounds in America by Soliant.
New or additional playground equipment, with themes focused on imaginative play and learning, is being installed at every elementary school on handicap- accessible, poured-in-place rubber surfaces instead of mulch, over the next six years. Elementary playgrounds at Humble ISD schools are open to the public when school is not in session.
The River Pines Elementary playground has a unique setup, combining traditional play and fitness in one space. A commanding 29-foot-tall tower, equipped with nature-themed play panels and a 20-foot slide, takes center stage of the play area. The surrounding freestanding play equipment, including spinners, seesaws, and stepping logs, add play variety and incorporate additional nature elements to the play space. A collection of tropical birds are perched on top of the swing set, and the resident crocodile and python will give students a balancing challenge that will have their imaginations running wild. Tactile touch panels and plant-themed musical instruments, like lilypad cymbals and flower chimes, are found throughout the play space and provide children opportunities to explore with all their senses.
Play at River Pines Elementary is made accessible to children of all abilities with inclusive features like wheelchair-accessible pour-in-place rubber surfacing and an inclusive swing seat. The pour-in-place surface has images of a river, trees, lily pads and vegetation that would be found in a rainforest.
The obstacle course section features a variety of equipment that will test students’ physical strength and bring creative competition to the school yard. Net and wall climbing structures, stepping pods, and the double turbo challenge, a rotating, wheeled take on traditional monkey bars, are packed with fun fitness challenges. A ride on the double zipline closes out the course and is a thrilling reward for their hard work. The pour-in-place surfacing was designed to direct traffic in the right direction and lead participants throughout the course, with a pod of pink dolphins swimming underneath as students glide toward the finish line.
Set apart from the playground and obstacle course space, but consistent with the rainforest theme, is a shaded outdoor classroom. Seating structures shaped like a snake, caterpillar, tree frog, mushrooms, and a blade of grass surround a magnetic white board.
