SCHOOL DESK

Yelling at the tops of their lungs, running full speed across the schoolyard, throwing themselves down a curved green slide and hanging from monkey bars, the blue-shirted students at the Multiple Intelligence School, PS/MS 37 took full advantage of their new playground.

Unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Councilman Oliver Koppell on Sept. 27, the school’s new play area features a small track (13 laps is a mile); mini football, soccer, basketball and baseball courts; a “chalk zone” for budding artists; and equipment, including two slides, a “spider web” of ropes for climbing and bongo drums. A tic-tac-toe board, hopscotch outline and a map of the Untied States are just a few of the images painted onto the blacktop that will be used for both educational and recreational purposes.

The chess tables, situated in the corner of the yard, will supplement the chess program that was recently eliminated to deal with shrinking budgets, Principal Kenneth Petriccione said during a tour of the new space.

The “chillin’ area” — a popular request from the 30-student playground committee — is coming soon and will include bleachers, Mr. Petriccione said.

The playground, located behind PS/MS 37 on a stretch of blacktop overlooking IN-Tech Academy, MS/HS 368, was opened with a $65,000 grant from Mr. Koppell.

Then, Out2Play, a non-profit that specializes in customized play spaces provided an additional $130,000. The grand total came to $195,000 in new funding for a place to have fun.

To ensure students got what they wanted, Mr. Petriccione assembled third through eighth graders. While many interviewed said they had specific demands, such as a baseball field or hopscotch area, the sixth-grade playground committee member Jennifer Kercado said she just wanted “everybody to have fun.”

The area, however, will be used for more than fun. Last week, Mr. Petriccione said math and science teachers had already taken their students outside for a lesson about measuring.