18743 Radburn School Pta

The Radburn Elementary School is the only elementary school in Fair Lawn, NJ that does not have a playground available for students during recess. 

"It would be more fun than just running around outside." - A kindergartener

"A playground would let the whole school play together like a community." - Richard, 4th grade

Our school is located in the Radburn section of Fair Lawn. Radburn is a planned community started in 1929, and in 1974 it was included in the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey State Register.   Due to the specialized nature of being a Historical Landmark, The Radburn Association requested that we apply to the NJ Historical Preservation Ofice for permission to build on the property.

We are thrilled to announce that we have been granted permission to build by The Radburn Association and the NJ Historical Preservation Office. 

Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of play and playgrounds for child health and development, noting that it plays a crucial role in children’s cognitive, social and emotional development.  In fact, play is considered to be so important to child development that the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has recognized play as the right of every child.[i] Moreover, a Baylor University College of Medicine study reported that children who do not play or are rarely touched develop brains that are 20% to 30% smaller than normal for their age.”[ii]

In addition, over the past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents.[iii] The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children ages 6–17 years participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily, and asserts, “Schools can promote physical activity through comprehensive school physical activity programs, including recess, classroom-based physical activity, intramural physical activity clubs, interscholastic sports, and physical education.”[iv]   

By making a contribution toward the Radburn Elementary School’s Fitness Fund, you will be investing in our students’ health and well-being.  As a registered 501 (c)(3), all donations are fully tax-deductible.

"Having a playground won't be big enough for every kid, so it will help teach kids to take turns and share." -Leon, 2nd grade

[i]  Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Convention on the Rights of the Child. General Assembly Resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989. (Available at: www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm)

[ii] J. Madeleine Nash, “Fertile Minds,” Time, February 1997. 

[iii] Centers for Disease Control, Childhood Obesity Facts, http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm. 

[iv] Centers for Disease Control, Physical Activity Facts, http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/facts.htm.