Baldwinsville Nursery School is celebrating its 40th anniversary by raising $40,000 to revamp its playground ­­— and it’s already more than halfway to its goal.

The fundraising campaign, which began Jan. 20, had garnered more than $25,000 at press time.

Julie Dillon, director of BNS, said donations have been pouring in from community members, the families of both current and former students and one generous individual who opted not to attach their name to their $10,000 donation.

Dillon said the donor, who is a member of the First United Methodist Church, has promised to match donations as well.

BNS is seeking to replace the wood chips that cover the playground with poured-in-place (PIP) rubber flooring, which will make the playground accessible to children of all abilities. The new flooring will cost about $20,000.

“It’s difficult for any of the kids with a [physical] disability to navigate,” Dillon said of the current wood chips.

The new PIP flooring will provide a well-cushioned, low-maintenance surface for students to play on.

Dillon said the playground project falls in line with BNS’ inclusive philosophy.

“We are an inclusion school, which means we include children of all abilities, including children with disabilities and developmental delays,” she said.

In fact, about 25 percent of BNS students have special physical, social and academic needs. BNS teachers collaborate with occupational and physical therapists, speech pathologists and other specialists to provide those children with the services they need.

“Play is a child’s work,” Dillon said. “As children engage one another on a playground they not only improve their large motor skills, they also develop better communication and social skills. It is often on the playground that children first learn to solve their own problems which leads to an improved sense of independence and higher self-esteem.”

The project will also replace the playground’s 15-year-old climbing structure.

Dillon said if the school waited until after the new flooring is installed to replace the play equipment, it would tear up the PIP flooring.

Dillon said the new playground will encourage students to develop their core muscles, which she said can be weak without adequate exercise and play.

“[In] this day and age, children don’t spend as much time outside. More often than not, they’re sitting with an electronic toy,” she said.

There are more than just physical benefits to the new playground.

“A playground that is fully accessible to all children provides typically able children an opportunity to learn to accept those with special needs as equals,” Dillon said. “As the children play with one another they discover the benefits of awareness, compassion and acceptance that simply can’t be taught in a classroom.”

That compassion has contributed to the longevity of the school, which opened in 1974 and is sponsored by the First United Methodist Church.

“I think it is the family atmosphere at our school that parents find helpful and comforting,” Dillon said. “Our staff tries to treat parents and children the way they would want their own family members treated.  Children at BNS learn that they have a ‘school family’ as well as a ‘home family’ and that being part of a family means we take care of each other.”

The BNS playground project is still accepting donations. Visit baldwinsvillenurseryschool.com and click on “Playground Project” to learn how to help and see a list of other donors.

For more information, contact Julie Dillon at 635-5723 or [email protected].