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Bel-Aire Elementary School is hopeful of soon having a playground that includes inclusive pieces of equipment for all children, including those with special needs.    

Currently, the Bel-Aire PTO is fundraising for this all-inclusive playground equipment. 

Over the past year, the PTO has received an 80/20 grant for the ADA-compliant surface required for an inclusive playground.

As word spread about their objective, the Tullahoma Educational Foundation for Excellence provided a grant, and the PTO received donations from several local businesses.

In addition, the Bel-Aire PTO will host its annual Walk-A-Thon on Oct. 17. Some of the money raised will go toward the new playground.

Those wishing to donate can designate a piece of playground equipment they wish to purchase in part or whole, or can contribute to the overall project.

Specific pieces of accessible equipment the school hopes to purchase include four 30′ x 30′ x 30′ Shade Sails at $16,250 each, Musical Components from $1,300 to $5,000 each, an Adaptive Roll on Rocker $21,800, a Net Climber $18,250, a Disc Swing $4,300 and a Triple Cube Climber $8,500.

The playground will be on the Bel-Aire campus and open to any child in the community.

Those interested in learning about the playground or who have additional questions can email belairepto@gmail.com.   

Those wishing to contribute to the playground are asked to make a check payable to Bel-Aire School PTO and mail it to 504 Stone Blvd., Tullahoma.