Shepherd Elementary School Playground Replacement

Washington, DC - Under Construction

In 2024, the DC Department of General Services (DGS) and District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) began the process of updating the early childhood education (ECE) playground at Shepherd Elementary School. Conroy Landscape Architecture worked with a group of parents, community members, faculty, and staff to design a playspace that is fun and safe for all students and is inclusive of students in the Communication and Education Support (CES) program.

The CES program is designed to meet the individual needs of students with significant communication and behavior issues, primarily students who have Autism Spectrum Disorders. With these students in mind, we incorporated equipment with rocking and spinning motions that are thought to aid in speech development and included two communication panels to assist communication with teachers and caregivers. We addressed sensory needs with the water and sand basins, shaded calming areas, a roller slide, and many of the activities incorporated into the play structure panels. The primary play structure is linked with ramps that remove physical barriers for students using wheelchairs or other devices.