Second-grade student Oscar Guzman, left, of Clearwater, gets a ride through the new sensory playground with occupational therapist Huy Nguyn, while fourth-grader Diego Lopez, of Dunedin, rides with occupational therapist Abi Selva on Tuesday at Paul B. Stephens School in Clearwater.

In Clearwater, new sensory playground opens for special needs students

Pinellas County Schools opened a new playground that students can enjoy with all their senses.
Second-grade student Oscar Guzman, left, of Clearwater, gets a ride through the new sensory playground with occupational therapist Huy Nguyn, while fourth-grader Diego Lopez, of Dunedin, rides with occupational therapist Abi Selva on Tuesday at Paul B. Stephens School in Clearwater. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Pinellas County Schools opened a new playground that students can enjoy with all their senses.
By
Published May 2|Updated May 2
Eighth-grade student Tia Bugazia, 13, center, is assisted onto a glider by mobility instructor Bryan Evans.
Eighth-grade student Tia Bugazia, 13, center, is assisted onto a glider by mobility instructor Bryan Evans. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]

By his third lap, Oscar Guzman’s stoic gaze transformed into an infectious smile as he explored his new digs.

“He’s really smiling now, this is a lot of fun,” observed Huy Nguyn, an occupational therapist who was ushering Guzman, a second-grader, around the new sensory therapeutic playground at Paul B. Stephens School.

Guzman was among a half dozen of the school’s students who attended a preview of Pinellas County School’s first sensory, therapeutic, wheelchair accessible playground during its soft opening on Tuesday.

Kindergartener Penelope Moran, 5, of Clearwater, rests in a spinning cocoon at Paul B. Stephens School's new sensory playground.
Kindergartener Penelope Moran, 5, of Clearwater, rests in a spinning cocoon at Paul B. Stephens School's new sensory playground. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
A communication board provides special needs students an opportunity to express their needs.
A communication board provides special needs students an opportunity to express their needs. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Eighth-grade student Tia Bugazia, 13, experiments with a digital music keypad.
Eighth-grade student Tia Bugazia, 13, experiments with a digital music keypad. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]

The project, which took two years to complete, provides a unique set of interactive elements enabling children with different ranges of physical and mental abilities to play and thrive.

Designers used feedback from the school’s therapists to help meet students’ physical and mental health needs.

The specialized equipment also works on a student’s balance, mobility, walking, and communication skills all while having fun. Therapists, specialists and the school’s physical education teachers incorporate the playground into the students’ treatment plans.

Playground Highlights:

• A Communication Core Board allows nonverbal students to communicate by pointing at symbols.

• Cozy cocoons spin, assist students with balance.

• A playhouse helps students work on standing and creative play.

• An Aero glider rocks back and forth for an amusement park ride experience.

• Circles and stars throughout the playground offer varying textures for sensory input.

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• Adaptive bikes give students the experience of riding a bike.

• Students in wheelchairs can access the playground at their level of play.

Beads flow through a dimensional map of the Earth at an interactive station at Paul B. Stephens Exceptional Student Education Center's new sensory playground in Clearwater.
Beads flow through a dimensional map of the Earth at an interactive station at Paul B. Stephens Exceptional Student Education Center's new sensory playground in Clearwater. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Fifth-grade student Brandon Alvarez explores an interactive puzzle.
Fifth-grade student Brandon Alvarez explores an interactive puzzle. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Second-grade student Oscar Guzman, of Clearwater, relaxes on a swing.
Second-grade student Oscar Guzman, of Clearwater, relaxes on a swing. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]

The playground is being officially dedicated at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Paul B. Stephens School in Clearwater.

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