The Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District closed the Millikin preschool, near Severance Town Center, in 2006. Since then, the board of education and neighbors of the property have not always agreed on its reuse -- and that debate was complicated this year by news that the district might need it for students again. But for now, all seem agreed on one thing: a playground would be nice.

Last January, the board went along with requests to delay plans to sell Millikin at public auction. Some neighbors had asked for time to look for other options, ones that would permit public use of the 11-acre, partially wooded site. They envisioned a playground to replace the one that had been relocated to the Gearity elementary school in University Heights, along with Millikin's early childhood programs, in '06.

Then in June, a state commission recommended that CH-UH renovate or replace all of its buildings. The district's own facilities review continues, but officials have already stated that it needs to hold onto Millikin for possible use as a temporary school, during renovations of another.

In the meantime, however, the district has drawn up plans for a toddler playground, according to neighbor Sam Richmond. "We have hope now that, one way or another, we might get a playground," he says. But it will be up to the community, he adds, to raise the money. Richmond hopes that community development block grants might be available next year.

This would not rule out the district's leasing the building, as it leased the former Coventry School to University Hospitals, for employee computer training, earlier this year. Presently, however, no such plans are imminent, according to Nancy Peppler, president of the CH-UH board.

Source: Nancy Peppler
Writer: Frank W. Lewis