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Green Bay Area Public Schools and City of Green Bay leaders gathered with students and staff to celebrate the new ADA compliant and inclusive playground at Danz Elementary School on November 8, 2024.
Interim Superintendent Vicki Bayer, Green Bay Parks Department Director Dan Ditscheit and Danz Elementary School Principal Kelly Agen spoke, along with translator Nancy Guillen.
Danz Elementary School is on the east side of Green Bay and serves more than 500 students in grades 4K-5.
Parks Director Dan Ditscheit acknowledged the importance of the partnership between the City of Green Bay and Green Bay Area Public Schools when it comes to creating spaces for our students.
“As we continue to develop the next generation of parks [and] playgrounds, we feel the progress we are making is a great start and wouldn’t be possible without the unique relationship we have with Green Bay Schools,” Ditscheit said.
Danz Elementary Principal Kelly Agen said the anticipation of the new playground has students stopping her in the hallway to share their gratitude for the new playground.
“The day came and they were bursting with excitement,” Agen said. “Students ran out the commons door and were cheering as they were able to climb, jump, and swing on the equipment. I have had many students stop me in the hallways and in classrooms to tell me how much fun the new playground is to play on. They are very excited for recess and are building wonderful new memories.”
Danz playground is the fifth ADA-compliant and inclusive playground installed in the Green Bay Area Public School District and the third for the City of Green Bay parks system. The project was made possible thanks to community support of the November 2022 referendum and through City of Green Bay ARPA funds.
New ADA-compliant and inclusive playgrounds were installed at Aldo Leopold Community School and Baird Elementary School over the summer of 2024 and at Sullivan Elementary in the fall of 2024. Jackson Elementary School was the first in the District to have an ADA-compliant and inclusive playground, which was installed in the summer of 2023. All five ADA-compliant playground projects were made possible thanks to community support of the 2022 Referendum.
