When Every Student Finally Has a Place to Play

The playground equipment at Pleasant Valley Elementary and Intermediate Schools was aging out. It no longer met modern codes and failed to address students' social-emotional needs post-COVID. More importantly, it lacked true inclusivity.

When post-COVID infrastructure funding became available, the administration moved fast. They planned a complete replacement of three areas: the kindergarten playground at PVE, the Rainbow Walk playground, and the PVI playground. They needed a way to document the transformation and show the community exactly how the funds were being used.

We produced a community-facing documentary designed for parents, the school board, and local stakeholders. Our approach was to capture the entire process from planning to reveal.

We interviewed Principals Sabrina Albright and Roger Pomposello, students, and the local contractors from Brodhead Site Contracting. We documented the excavation—including unforeseen obstacles like buried concrete—and the installation of the new equipment. The final deliverable served as both a historical record and a powerful promotional piece for the district.

The emotional core of this story is accessibility. Before the new equipment, students with physical needs went outside with their peers but stayed at the periphery. They observed instead of participating.

The new design changed that completely. With wheelchair-accessible platforms, walker-compatible equipment, and sensory play elements, every student now has ownership over the equipment. They are in the center of the action.

This project was deeply personal for everyone involved. One contractor is an alumna who played on the original playground as a child. The contractors from Brodhead Site Contracting had kids in the district. When the playgrounds finally opened, the unscripted student reactions told the whole story. One student called it "1,000% awesome." Another rated it a perfect 10.

"Before the new equipment, students with physical needs went outside with their peers but stayed at the periphery — observing instead of participating. Now they have ownership over equipment at school."

— Principal Pomposello

This documentary did more than show off new swings and slides. It provided undeniable stewardship proof to the community. It showed parents that the district prioritizes inclusivity. It gave the school board a tangible success story to reference for future funding initiatives.

By capturing the process and the authentic reactions, Pleasant Valley School District controlled the narrative and celebrated a massive win for their students.