BRES Student Council unanimously votes “The new park is great.”

Blue Ridge mayor Donna Whitener and Council member Rhonda Thomas welcome BRES children to City Park.

BRES pre-K, kindergarten, first grade and special education got special Halloween treat from the City of Blue Ridge –  a welcome to the new park.  Mayor Donna Whitener and City Council member Rhonda Thomas were there, candy in hand, to show the students the park.  Mayor Whitener said she had been visiting BRES classrooms for several years to explain what a city government does.  Then the students would write letters to the Mayor; most of the letters said something about the City Park and that is what got her thinking about how to develop one.

FetchYourNews was there to find out from the city center of slides and swings to find out what the children thought of the park.  Mickey Mouse said, “It is the best new park.” At the bottom of the article are pictures of the playground for all angles so you can prep the children in your life for their first visit to the park.

BRES sepcial edcation students with Brook Campell, BRES paraprofessional.

One of Mayor Whitener’s goals in  creating the park is to make the park accessible for everyone  of different abilities.  The park includes a swing suitable for autistic children and a slide wide enough that an adult caring for children with difficulty walking can place the child on the slide.  Also, adults can place the children in the green spinning merry-go-round.  The seats are cradled in such a way that the child cannot fall out.

Mayor Whitener speaks with a BRES student.

Playground equipment that is accessible for everyone is an important part of Mayor’s vision for the park. Through experience with her extended family, she understands differently-abled children need public place to play too.

BRES Principal, Shannon Miller, told FetchYourNews how thankful she is that “all of Blue Ridge’s children have a place to play.”  She also thanked the Board of Education for installing playground equipment for differently-abled children at BRES.

Belle from Beauty and the Beast likes the twisty slide.  “I just go around and around,” said Belle.

Vampress Ashley Hobson with Optimus and Anna of Anna and Else fame, said, “I love the park. I can’t wait to play.”  Optimus said, “Everything (in the park) is my favorite thing.”

BRES Pre-K teacher REbecca Green with students Koleman and Annelise.

BRES pre-K teacher Rebecca Green had 22 children to keep up with.  FetchYourNews asked her what children that age like to play.  Green said, “Slides, swings, just run around and play tag and Simon Says.”

Bat Girl Ivy, age 2, was too busy to give FetchYourNews a comment.  Spiderman, her brother, age 4, said,”I like the slide, then swing.  Try to swing at home.  See if I can climb stuff.”

BRES makes the trick-or-treating trip to East Main Street businesses every year.  It isn’t all about getting candy.  BRES Principal Shannon Miller said that it is a way for kids to get to know what their downtown looks like and be part of the community.  Miller thanks the following for helping out with BRES.  Mayor Whitener and the Blue Ridge City Council, Senior Center, Blue Ridge Dry Cleaners, The Vault, Southern Comfort, Colwell Banker High County Realty, Fannin County Fire Department, Dr. Hold, Tru Mountain Realty, Harry Norman Realty and Town and Country Furniture.

Scroll Below for Pictures of Playground Equipment from Different Angles