WCCO: Hopkins elementary school debuts fully accessible playground

October 9, 2024

Everywhere you look at Glen Lake Elementary School in Hopkins, Minnesota, love is in the air because of what is now on the ground.

"There's just a ton of things to do and I think it's really cool," eighth grader John Buettner, who uses a wheelchair, said. "The fact they were able to do all this is just amazing."

Buettner is referring to his friends — students who do not use wheelchairs.

"John is one of my really good friends, and there's kids at this school that are in wheelchairs and they couldn't play on the old playground. They were just sitting on the side, watching other kids play. And we just looked out the window one day and talked to Ms. Julien and said, 'We should make this playground accessible.'" eighth grader David Martin said.