Ascend Cares Unveils New Playground At Escambia Westgate School

September 29, 2018

A new sensory playground and learning garden were dedicated Friday at Escambia West Gate School.

The Ascend Cares Foundation partnered with Escambia Westgate to fund and install the playground and garden.

“This is the largest single Ascend Cares project in the history of the foundation. It is fitting that it relates to two of our focus areas: children and education,” said Rachell Gold, director of the Ascend Cares Foundation. “The purchase and installation of the new playground was funded by foundation donations and our company matching program.”

For more photos, click here.

Employees of Ascend Performance Materials’ Pensacola site worked as volunteers to dismantle the previous playground and prepare the site for the installation of the new sensory playground.

“Our previous playground did not meet the needs of the majority of our students,” said Jobenna Sellers, principal at Escambia Westgate School. “The new sensory playground is now fully accessible and will enhance our students’ functional and social development by providing increased exercise and outdoor activity.”

“I am so proud of the impact this project will have on the students’ lives, their school and their community,” said Sharhonda Owens, senior quality specialist for Ascend’s Pensacola site and the Ascend Cares playground project coordinator. “The playground was designed to meet the needs of every student at Escambia Westgate School. It has wheelchair-accessible swings, a sensory tunnel with cutouts and musical equipment.”

Ascend Cares has partnered with Escambia Westgate for the past six years. The school is dedicated to teaching children with physical and intellectual disabilities from grades K-12.

The previous playground equipment at Escambia Westgate was donated to another school.

For more photos, click here.

Pictured: The dedication of a new playground at Escambia Westgate School Friday. Pictured bottom at the ribbon cutting are:  (L-R) Sharhonda Owens, Ascend Performance Material; CEO Phil McDivitt,Ascend Performance Materials; Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, Escambia County School District;  Principal Jobenna Sellers, Escambia Westgate School; and Rep. Clay Ingram. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Ascend Cares Unveils New Playground At Escambia Westgate School”

  1. rick on October 1st, 2018 4:24 pm

    Thanks Ascend Nice job Tony!

  2. The Killams on September 29th, 2018 8:16 am

    Thanks for your generosity, Ascend- looks like a great playground!

  3. Jackie Johnson on September 29th, 2018 8:01 am

    Thank you Ascend Cares Foundation and everyone involved in making this playground a reality for the children at Westgate Elementary School!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News