NEWS: CDC’s New PlaygroundHuiyi Jiang(408) 568-4305word count: 514

The Child Development Center (CDC) is planning on building a brand-new playground for its children. The construction is part of a larger project, begun with Measure E bonds and now funded by Measure C bonds, that seeks to renovate and re-landscape the play areas around the CDC, particularly areas for smaller children.On when the construction will begin, Executive Assistant of Financial and Educational Resources Pippa Gibson said in an email, “The project is scheduled to commence at the end of June 2010 and be completed by mid September 2010.”The new playground will mainly be designed for toddlers under 4 years of age and will be located in the southeast corner of the CDC site where four other playgrounds already exist. When completed, the new area will be friendlier to younger children and will provide a comfortable and safe recreational environment. Of the future playground, Gibson said,”It has a play structure, shade structure/performance area, [and] “tot sized” raised gardening beds.” Additional landscaping will also be done around the playground to enhance its accessibility and give it a more natural appearance. Renovation to the surrounding areas will seek to incorporate currently existing trees in its layout and will include walking trails and outdoor benches. The new playground, like many other construction projects going on at De Anza College, will also focus on utilizing greener materials that are more environmentally friendly while also being safer for small children. “The shade structure/performance area will be made of metal with a fabric canopy,” said Gibson, “The play surface under the play structure will be made of recycled rubberized material. “Trex” recycled plastic decking will also be installed.””Trex” is a trademark brand of alternative decking material that uses recycled wood and plastic fibers to create a building composite that does not deteriorate, splinter, nor contain any toxic chemicals or preservatives sometimes found in treated wooden playgrounds. According to the Gibson, “The total project budget is $370k. The construction budget [for the new playground] is $260k.” The $370,000 will come from Measure C funds, but there is a slight financial obstacle for the project. According to the Director of the Child Development Center Naoko Hirada, an additional $40,000 is needed to fund the full construction for the playground. Otherwise, certain aspects of the project will have to be cut out. Hirada and others at the CDC are currently arranging for fundraising possibilities to raise the $40,000. Some ideas include having a day where popular businesses such as Starbucks, Jamba Juice, or Togos would donate a percentage of its profits from student customers to the playground. A date has not yet been set. Under Measure E, the CDC building received a new 11,500 sq.ft. addition in 2002 along with renovations done to Wing A and B in 2003. A two phase landscaping project was also completed as was a new playground (the fourth one), funded by the Packerd Foundation.Construction for the new project will be contracted and completed by Guerra Construction who won the bid subject to Board of Trustees approval at the May 2010 Board meeting.