FCPS: Stratford Landing ES Playground to Reopen

Stratford Landing Elementary School can now keep most of the new playground equipment installed last year, Fairfax County Public Schools officials decided last week.

The playground apparatus was closed off in November after FCPS officials declared it unsafe and it had to be uninstalled.

The Stratford Landing Elementary School PTA raised $55,000 over the last three years for playground improvements. After selecting a design that was met with approval from the Fairfax County Public Schools Facilities Department, last summer the PTA moved forward with installing the first phase of the playground – a new track and climber.

Stratford Landing can keep most of the new equipment with the exception of the Gyro Twister. The playground will remain closed until FCPS has made necessary upgrades to the equipment.

"I am happy that FCPS has decided not to make us take all of the equipment out," PTA member Sara Powell told Patch in an email. "I wish we could keep the spinner, but hopefully we can move forward from here and the necessary upgrades will happen quickly and we can get the kids back out on the equipment soon."

Mount Vernon District School Board Representative Dan Storck was a key player in ensuring the playground's future. He worked with FCPS assistant Superintendent for Facilities Jeffrey Platenberg to reverse the administration's ruling to remove the $35,000 equipment. 

Storck told Patch he is "very pleased" with the decision to reopen the playground. 

"I'm convinced it will make a real difference for the community," Storck said.

Storck said he still has some regulation and policy questions for the board.

"The bigger issue on policy side has to do with student achievement goals," Storck said. "Making sure that our playground rules and liability guidelines don’t overly restrict our kids from achieving student achievement goals our board has commited to many, many years ago."