AURORA —A school bus pulled up in front of Weather Stone Apartments on a recent Friday afternoon, and a swarm of school kids hopped off and headed straight for the small courtyard in the center of the complex.
A green mat was set up, and on top of it were pogo sticks, skateboards, scooters, toy cars, doll sets, board games, plastic kitchen sets and sidewalk chalk ready for about 40 youngsters to pick through and play with for the next three hours.
“Recess is only 20 minutes. This is way better,” said Fati Ndiaye, 10. Fati lives at the apartments in north Aurora with her parents, two brothers and little sister. “We come every Friday. I like playing soccer and seeing what new things they have on the mobile. There’s a loom kit that’s new that I want to play with later.”
All of the toys and games came from Aurora’s mobile playground, a moving truck packed with playthings on wooden shelves that goes to a different low-income neighborhood from 3-6 p.m. every Tuesday through Friday. Kids get off the school bus and scour the truck for their favorite toys or get help with homework from some of the supervisors who work for Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space.
The program started more than 20 years ago and has collected such a dedicated following that other Aurora programs will be piggybacking off its outreach success this summer. The city is even making the truck and staff available for rent to private groups for $60 an hour.
“We’re starting a partnership with the Aurora Public Library’s mobile book program,” said Brenda Sturdivant, a city staff member for the Aurora youth centers. “All summer, we’ll help get the kids signed up with library cards and have them borrow books and bring them back right here in front of their homes. The library people will just come to our sites.”
Since the beginning of the mobile playground program, the signature truck has served the same four neighborhoods. One of the first Aurora supervisors to work on the mobile playground, Martin Peterson, said those neighborhoods were chosen more than two decades ago because, back then, they were the areas of greatest need.
“They still are in many ways,” Peterson said. “We went around and saw the need in the different communities. We went and talked to the protection services around the area and learned about the kinds of places these kids were growing up in.
“They come from dysfunctional homes,” he said. “And I’ve learned that we’re a support group for them. We make sure they eat. If we see a child out there with no shoes, we’ll come back the next week and get them a pair. They can depend on us, and have for many years.”
“This program serves a population of children who don’t have access to transportation in order to travel to a park or recreation facility,” said Sherri-Jo Stowell, spokeswoman for Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space. “It serves a great need including active playtime that would otherwise be spent sedentary, and interaction with adults who serve as role models, who even help with tutoring. “
The program has an annual budget allocation of $28,000 for salaries, gas and replacement toys. Some toys are donated, but most of them are purchased new once old ones are worn out.
“Additionally, families can now rent this vehicle, with employees, for things like birthday parties and big gatherings,” Sturdivant said. “They get the same thing we do here. We go to the homes, get set up and keep everyone safe. It’s so fulfilling and wonderful.”
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, mmitchell@denverpost.com or twitter.com/Mmitchelldp
Mobile playground locations
•Tuesdays at Plaza Townhomes at
1431 Moline St.
• Wednesdays at Villa Verde Apartments at 1642 Alton St.
• Thursdays (spring, summer, and fall) at Spencer Garrett Park at 1600 Joliet St.
• Fridays at Weather Stone Apartments at 15594 E. 12th Ave.
All from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
To rent the mobile playground call Martin Peterson at 303-739-1575.
