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Oct 28, 2009 8:09 am US/Eastern
Redondo Elementary Playground In Need Of Facelift
Nicole Maristany
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Great memories are made on the playground, but the students of Redondo Elementary in Homestead can't even play on theirs, because it's just not a safe place to play.
"I wish I could have a playground that's much larger than this one. It's too small" said second grader, Valerie Ramirez. And she's not the only student who feels that way. According to first grader, Joseph Salinas, "It has a hole in it, there's a hole in the slide." Third grader Sebastian Salinas adds, "I feel sad because they try to trash it."
Redondo's playground is littered with graffiti, worn down and unsafe.
Dr. Rene Baly, Redondo's Principal, planned to include a new one in this year's budget, but cuts made it impossible.
"As you can see it's broken. It's in need of replacement, it's been here since after hurricane Andrew and it's time for a new playground" said Dr. Baly.
That's where the PTA stepped in to try to raise money.
"Our school has changed and our funds have been lacking. As a volunteer and a parent of this school we try to help in any way we can," said the school's PTA President, Rene Abrego.
But even the funds raised by the PTA have gone to supplement other needs. As for the kids, all they know is that they still can't play. Something Allison McPeek, a kindergarten teacher with a classroom of autistic students notices.
"I think it would give them a sense of respect. Sometimes when they come to our school and they see something like this it's kind of downing and sometimes it makes them think they aren't worthy of something better," said McPeek.
But despite the difficultly in raising money for a proper playground, Mr. Baly is not giving up hope.
"Kids are our future, there's no doubt about that. I have two myself. If there's anything we could do to help kids, they're going to be leaders of the future, we should partake in." said Baly.
If you would like to help out the students of Redondo Elementary School with a new playground, give Neighbors 4 Neighbors a call at (
305) 597- 4404 or visit the website at
neighbors4neighbors.org.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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