Leveling the Playing Field!

Playgrounds don’t usually make headlines, but they should when they change who gets to be part of the game. That’s exactly what’s happening at Gwinnett County Public Schools, where two new inclusive playgrounds at Baggett Elementary School and Ferguson Elementary School aren’t just updating recess…they’re rethinking it.

These aren’t upgrades for appearances. They’re designed so students of all abilities can move through the same space, play alongside each other, and actually interact without barriers getting in the way. Ramps replace steps. Adaptive equipment opens things up. Communication boards give students more ways to connect. It’s practical design, but it changes the experience in a real way.

At Baggett, the project went a step further. Fourth-grade students were brought into the design process as part of a hands-on STEAM lesson. They had to think through what accessibility really looks like. What works, what doesn’t, and what gets overlooked. That kind of involvement sticks because it’s not theoretical, but something they actually helped shape.

Built With Intention

Projects like this don’t come together by accident. They’re the result of planning, collaboration, and a funding model that’s built to support local schools.

• The builds were supported through the Georgia Peach Education Tax Credit 
• The program allows individuals and businesses to contribute to public education in a way that directly impacts schools like these 
• District leadership and school communities worked together to ensure the spaces reflect how students actually use them 

What This Signals for Gwinnett

Inclusive playgrounds might seem like a small shift, but they point to something bigger: schools are paying closer attention to how space shapes student experiences both inside and outside of the classroom.

When kids can play together without barriers, it changes how they interact. It builds awareness early, without needing to spell it out. It also creates a sense of belonging that carries into the rest of the school day.

Get familiar with the places investing in Gwinnett students at https://www.guidetogwinnett.com/education-childcare.