School Playgrounds to Stay Open Longer

Starting this week, playgrounds at about 300 schools are being staffed an extra two hours in the afternoon and some will be opened on weekends, compliments of the Los Angeles City Council.

The council put up $1.8 million to pay the salaries of playground aides, while officials of the Los Angeles Unified School District selected the elementary and junior high schools to participate.

Although the benefactor in both cases is the city of Los Angeles, the playground program is not to be confused with a proposal by Mayor Tom Bradley to have the city pay for after-school tutoring and child care at elementary schools.

The mayor’s proposal is contingent on the city obtaining new legal authority to use tax funds collected in redevelopment projects throughout the city.

That authority is still not assured, and the mayor’s program is in effect at 10 schools on a trial basis. Students who participate must enroll in the program and cannot leave the campus without parental approval, school officials said Wednesday.

With the new playground program that starts this week, no enrollment is required. Once classes end, the playgrounds are open to children from other schools and to adults without restrictions, in the same fashion as city parks. During regular school hours the playgrounds are closed to the public.

The extended playground hours grew out of a trial effort at five inner-city schools begun by Los Angeles City Councilwoman Gloria Molina. Later, in committee hearings, Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky suggested including most elementary and junior high schools.

For the most part, schools are included if they are located more than three blocks from a city recreation center. However, the final choices are being made by Board of Education members.

The city will pay to keep the playgrounds staffed until 6 p.m. on weekdays, at least until June 30. Playground aides will supervise sports and other recreation activities. After dark, students will be encouraged to move inside for games or to work on homework.

Those schools chosen to be open on weekends will be staffed for 11 hours, with the exact times to vary at each school.