New school year, new playground for Tiger Club Preschool

EPHRATA — This last summer, crews moved play equipment from city property onto school district property at the Tiger Club Preschool, according to a press release from Ephrata School District.

ESD used a $25,000 grant given to them by the Washington State Early Childhood Education Assistance Program to fund the upgraded playground, according to Sarah Morford, the communications director for ESD.

“The biggest part of this is its accessible playground equipment, so anyone can use it,” Morford said. “So, if you have a disability or a handicap, you're able to use the accessible swings. You can access them even if you might have mobility issues.”

New playground equipment was added including a new “big toy,” a larger piece of playground equipment that has multiple slides and an activity area, a couple of smaller playground features and a second set of swings. The school also added blue rubber matting, to allow for the playground to be more accessible, according to Morford. The school district will be adding sprinklers and grass seed this week, according to the Ephrata School District press release.

Once construction is complete, which Morford said will be before the preschool opens at the end of September, the playground will be open to the community during non-school hours. The Tiger Club Preschool is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are no pets allowed on the playground, per the ESD press release.

Tiger Cub Preschool is part of the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, Washington's pre-kindergarten program that prepares 3- and 4-year-old students. The pre-school focuses on families that have low annual income or who have developmental or environmental risk factors that could affect school success, according to the EPD press release. The school can have 85 students according to Morford.

Tiger Cub Preschool begins Monday, Sept. 23, and the school has spaces for students available. Applications for enrollment are due Aug. 31. To apply, visit: https://bit.ly/TGRCLB