PLAYGROUND

Groups of students in the MSU Department of Landscape architecture presented their designs as part of the department's Design Week. The groups went in several directions, including themed playgrounds, trails, community gardens, classroom spaces and in one case, a monument to deceased Sudduth alumnus Gabriel “Super Gabe” Valentine. The MSU students observed Sudduth students playing and discussed features they might like to see earlier this week.

The next step in the process will be for Memphis-based landscape architecture firm Dalhoff Thomas to create a design from the student work.

“I thought it was a fantastic display of student talent, and (it) brought together a lot of ideas from the community and our educators,” said Sudduth parent Kenny Langley, a member of the Health Task Team pushing for the new playground and other improvements to health and fitness at Sudduth. “Next, we kind of regroup as a community, talk to Dalhoff Thomas from Memphis and look at options for how we can develop a proposal to bring some funding to make some of these ideas real.”

Superintendent Eddie Peasant also approved of the ideas the students brought forth.

“I'm really impressed with the thoughtfulness of these MSU landscape architectural students, that they are putting so much thought and creating spaces for kids to have so much fun, but at the same time, whether they know it or not, there are spaces that they will be learning from as they experience it, as they play and are entertained by it, they'll be educated just as much,” Peasant said.

Children in the Starkville community often use the current Sudduth playground after hours and on weekends. The city of Starkville is considering the possibility of a legitimate jointuse agreement for the playground with the district.