Sunday, August 19, 2012

Because of YOU...

You see things; and you say, "Why?"
But I dream things that never were;
and I say, "Why not?”
-George Bernard Shaw

Because of YOU, we have been able to dream things that never were; and say, “Why not?”
Because of YOU, we have been able to expand our vision beyond our original one.  
Because of YOU, we are able to make our children’s’ dreams a reality.
All because of YOU!

The support of your time, talent, and treasure has allowed us to provide so much more than we ever thought possible. In the early stages of this journey, we, as committee members, aimed for a playground. But as a result of the overwhelming support we’ve received, we are not only going to provide our children with a playground, but an upgraded soccer field, an outdoor classroom, a peace garden, and a labyrinth! It is indeed going to be an Extreme Play Yard Makeover!!! Thank you so much!

Our Vision...Because of YOU!

Playground: As initially planned, we will provide a safe and inclusive playground, complete with picnic tables, garbage/recycling can, and benches. It will be a welcoming place for families to come and connect. As you will see from the NEW AND IMPROVED DESIGN below, there have been a few additions and adjustments. There will now be toddler swings, an inclusive swing and a couple additional standard swings. Because this play area is for ALL children, we have included a wheelchair accessible digger and activity panels that address sensory challenges. There will be a walkway around the inside perimeter of the fencing to allow easier access for wheelchairs and strollers, as well as a place for parents to walk while supervising their children.

Future Site of Playground
Our New and Improved Design

Soccer Field: The field will be grubbed off prior to build day and the necessary loads of topsoil will be delivered in time for spreading on September 29th. There will be fencing installed on the front and back of the field as well. So…get your shovels and rakes ready and join us in making this happen!
Existing Soccer Field
An Outdoor Classroom: The outdoor classroom will be located where the old swings once were. It will include seating and some plants and flowers. We are including a picture below of the existing space, as well as a couple of images of outdoor classrooms. This will help give you an idea of what things might look like.

Future Site of the Outdoor Classroom (where peastone is)
A Peace Garden: This will be a quiet place of solitude and retreat with flowers, shrubs and two park benches. This will be located beyond the far end of the school, between the soccer field and outdoor classroom. A huge rock exists there right now, but it is going to be transformed on build day when it is encompassed with plants and flowers. Just past the rock is a stream of trickling water which adds to the beauty of this space. Below is a picture of the existing space and a picture of what a peace garden might look like.

Future Site of the Peace Garden
A Labyrinth: School labyrinths can serve as an activity zone for students. They can stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving, and act as a tool for conflict resolution. The labyrinth remains a metaphor for the individual's journey through life. While there are many labyrinth designs, ours will be made out of medium sized rocks. The images below will help you envision the possibilities with us.
Future Site of the Labyrinth (where alders are)