By Kim Siebert MacPhail
On Tuesday night, Bedford Education Foundation board members Ilsa Gottlieb and Melinda Macht-Greenberg formally gave the PlayZone—the outdoor recreation area designed and created for the Bedford High Integrated Preschool to the School Committee, saying “it took a community” to make the project a reality. Between donated funds, materials and equipment and gifts-in-kind such as expertise, instruction, creativity and elbow grease, Gottlieb estimated that the total project represents a gift to the schools of over $114,000.
Originally, the PlayZone was the brainchild of Judy Mirel who retired as Bedford’s Early Childhood Development Coordinator after 35 years in the position. The playground equipment and multiple areas within the space were designed to enhance sensory, gross, visual, and oral motor skill development as well as social, speech and language skills. Last October, the PlayZone was dedicated to Mirel at a ceremony at Bedford High School.
Click this link to read about the PlayZone dedication: https://thebedfordcitizen.org/2012/10/playzone-outdoor-classroom-dedication-honors-retired-bedford-educator-judy-mirel/
The project was possible because of a town-wide effort and the collaboration of many willing hearts and minds, according to Gottlieb.
“We’re lucky to live in Bedford,” Gottlieb said. “Teachers, police and fire departments, DPW, and Facilities department all gave the gift of expertise, time, and money. The School custodians went above and beyond.” Residents, community groups, and local businesses gave of their time, as well, to build, advise, or otherwise donate to the success of the project.
Melinda Macht-Greenberg, a former classroom teacher who is now a child psychologist, was also intimately involved in the PlayZone’s development. “I have to say that I think this is the most phenomenal project. For me, I think it’s been the most satisfying professional experience I’ve had in a very long time because of all the community that came together. There wasn’t anybody that we turned to who said ‘no.’ Everybody said, ‘these are our youngest students in town’ and everybody stepped up to join in.”
The number of individuals, corporations, small businesses, foundations, municipal departments and educational groups involved in the project is vast. Gottlieb said, “For this to happen, it took the entire Bedford Community.”
Gottlieb and Macht-Greenberg provided this list of contributors to the PlayZone:
With Special Thanks to the ‘Friends of Judy Mirel’
and
Bedford Education Association
Bedford Education Foundation
Bedford Education Association Student Board
Bedford Rotary
Bedford Eagle Scouts: Rob Bridgeman, Will Kahalyan, James Doud
Bedford DPW and Adrienne St. John, Earl Elliot, Tim French, and Mark Willson
Bedford Firefighters Association and Brian Fedele, Marc Sullivan
Bedford Girl Scout Troup #77208 and troop leaders (the late) Jane Koomar and Marge Heckman
Bedford Police Officers Association and Jeff Wardwell, Stephen Waite
Bedford High School Parents’ Association
Bobcat of Boston/ the Arsenault Family
Callahan Karate
Catania-Spagna Corporation
CASE Collaborative
Davis School Good Cheer
Emerson Hospital Community Partnership
Flatbread Restaurant
LABBB Collaborative
Middlesex Savings Bank
Music Drives Us Foundation
Occupational Therapy Associates
New England Nurseries
POMS
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