Crowd funded Cornerstone PlayLab will break ground this spring
The Cornerstone PlayLab is a parent and PTO driven playground that will be used to replace the old outdated playground.
“Nearly three years ago, the Cornerstone PTO was approached by Cornerstone staff to help update the playground. Most of the pieces on the current playground were installed nearly 20 years ago, and the Cornerstone population has changed since then, moving from a kindergarten to sixth grade school to a pre-kindergarten to fourth grade. “We have approximately 500 Pre-Kindergarten to fourth graders now, which includes three special needs classrooms,” Marcy Campbell, PlaySpace Executive Committee member said.
Although approved by the WSCD, all
of the money was raised by the PlayLab team from private donations. About $600,000 was raised from 280 donations, ranging between $5 and $100,000. The PlayLab will cost $550,000, and the remaining money will be used to upkeep the playground, according to Danielle Schantz, PlayLab Executive Committee chair.
A climbing hill, outside classroom and butterfly garden are among the pieces that will make up the PlayLab.
“The PlayLab is much more than a traditional playground. It represents the best in a 21st Century outdoor play and learning environment, combining traditional and natural play structures, learning gardens directly connected to classroom curricula, designated spaces for outdoor education, a walking path and more,” Campbell said.
The students at Cornerstone have played an integral part in helping design the PlayLab by drawing pictures of what they think the new playground should look like.
“[The students] are very excited and are looking forward to this project being completed… Play and exercise are important pieces of learning. I am very excited for this project to not only improve play opportunities for students, but also to expand learning opportunities for them outdoors,” Cornerstone principal Eric Vizzo said.
Another notable component of the PlayLab is that it will be ADA compliant, according to Campbell.
Construction is expected to begin in the spring and the project should be finished in August according to Vizzo.
