LSU Engineers Convey Enjoyable and Health to Children StatewideBlog Publish Title

An estimated 10,000 Louisiana youngsters have entry to a playground—a present of enjoyable,
friendship, and health from LSU engineering college students and school and native volunteers.

Marybeth Lima, professor and chair of the Department of Biological and Agricultural
Engineering (BAE) within the College of Engineering and the LSU AgCenter, co-leads the
LSU Community Playground Project with BAE Senior Instructor Sumit Libi. Lima launched
the challenge in 1998 to serve two functions: train organic engineering college students the
ideas of people-centered design and provides native youngsters a spot to play.

– Graphic by Casey Muller

Lack of entry to play is an issue for kids worldwide, and a specific problem
in Louisiana. The state’s public faculties are chronically underfunded, and cash to
replace playgrounds is usually not included in native college budgets. Louisiana additionally constantly
ranks as one of many high 5 states within the United States for childhood weight problems, with
youngsters and youths logging increased charges of display time than the nationwide common,
in accordance with the National Survey of Children’s Health.

“As an educator, I refuse to dwell in a group the place children can’t swing, slide, and
climb,” Lima stated. “Play is a method that youngsters be taught, and it helps them develop emotionally and socially and
bodily. When you’re a child, play is a vital part of getting a superb life.”

“Play is a method that youngsters be taught, and it helps them develop emotionally and socially
and bodily. When you’re a child, play is a vital part of getting a superb life.”

Marybeth Lima, professor and chair of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

For greater than 25 years, by way of the LSU Community Playground Project, organic engineering
college students have labored with communities to co-design and construct 51 secure, accessible playgrounds
in 9 parishes throughout Louisiana. Most are situated at public elementary faculties and
group parks. Seven are particularly designed for kids with particular wants.
Two have been custom-built for kids impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Maria Gonzales is an affiliate vitamin and group well being agent with the LSU AgCenter.
Gonzales works in Assumption Parish, the place LSU engineering groups have teamed up with
her and different group leaders to construct two playgrounds – one behind the library
in Belle Rose and one other at Marais Park. Gonzales stated the constructions have introduced
the group collectively and given residents two vital issues: well being and hope.

“Many of the recreation areas in our parish are previous and outdated and these new playgrounds
are a secure, multigenerational place for teenagers and households to come back collectively and be
lively,” Gonzales stated. “In a rural parish with excessive charges of poverty and weight problems,
it’s so vital to have a spot the place children can get outdoors. These communities have
been speaking about constructing a playground for years. But we are actually rubbing pennies
collectively. Everyone is on the mercy of the greenback and the place there are none, folks
really feel hopeless.”

“Having these faculty college students come discuss to center college college students for the Marais
Park playground reveals them that they will get issues accomplished and you could go to varsity,”
she stated. “This makes people see what’s possible for their community – and for themselves.”

Lima and her college students constructed their first playground at Beechwood Elementary School
in Baton Rouge again in 2000. Biological engineering college students in this system’s first
12 months design class labored with elementary college students and educators as a crew to create
a {custom} design for his or her playground. They labored collectively to boost cash for the
playground by way of grants and items. Then they organized a group construct powered
by LSU college students and native volunteers and overseen by a licensed playground installer.

It’s a mannequin LSU engineering groups nonetheless observe. Students younger and previous work collectively
with the youngsters in native communities to design a spot to play, then work collectively
to make it a actuality.

Children play on a playground constructed by the LSU Community Playground Project in Assumption
Parish.

– Photos: Maria Gonzales, LSU AgCenter Agent

With volunteer builders, challenge prices keep low whereas group spirit goes up. Benefits
are mutual. Local children contribute to the playground design, and within the course of, get
a spot to play whereas studying about faculty and what it’s prefer to be an engineer.
LSU college students get an opportunity to design and lead, whereas studying from youngsters about play
and in regards to the Louisiana communities they serve.

Mentoring relationships have even sprung up by way of the challenge. An estimated 500
LSU engineering college students have served over 4,000 hours as Reading and Math Friends
by way of the nonprofit Volunteers in Public Schools, whereas others volunteered for group
organizations like Front Yard Bikes and McMains Children’s Developmental Center.

Community leaders and public-school educators have additionally benefited. In 2008, 2012,
and 2021, playground challenge leaders provided free grant writing workshops to show
volunteers easy methods to increase cash for play gear and different group wants. During
every cycle, a number of volunteers secured funding. After the 2021 workshop, one group
group wrote a profitable $250,000 proposal for his or her playground.

Sam Sheppard is govt director of the Winnsboro-Franklin Chamber of Commerce and
the top of Develop Franklin, the financial growth company for Franklin Parish.
Sheppard stated the LSU playground makeover has given her group an enormous increase.

Improving Davis Park was an vital objective for the Winnsboro Main Street Economic
Committee, starting with changing the previous playground gear and worn sand surfacing. With the assistance of LSU, and assist from a neighborhood basis, Franklin residents now
have a brilliant, secure, wheelchair accessible playground that’s in fixed use.

“Every day when I drive by, it’s busy,” Sheppard stated. “People from all walks of life
are there, and all ages, for enjoyable and fellowship. People have birthday events and
household picnics there. The playground is an actual level of pleasure. It’s proper off our
predominant freeway, so it’s extremely seen, and it attracts folks from different rural parishes.
The playground is an actual a win for our group.”