Play has always been an essential component of a St. Peter’s School education, and each day, our playground is filled with joyful children. The recent renovation to the playground space has been a big success, and we are thrilled to see our students, new and returning, young and old, out playing and enjoying the benefits of the new structures and the improved space.

The Playground Project began about a year ago when we started thinking about ways to make our student experience more robust. The previous structures were nearing their end, having been utilized each day for over 14 years. The turf field, installed in 2012, was also in need of a refresh. The playground has always been an important part of each SPS student’s day, and now, even more, our students grow, learn, and find ways to be independent on our new equipment.

With anything new, we had to remove the old. The decisions to remove the zip line and the tire swings were based on feedback from teachers and parents, as well as a number of injuries over the years from these structures. We worked closely with Landscape Structures, the company that installed the new playground, to determine what items would be best for a multi-aged space for students between 3 and 14. The company has a process to make sure each item fits into the space and is functional for the age of the students. The Zenith Climber and the Global Motion can accommodate both young and old and provide a sensory experience that meets the needs of children at play. The Cozy Dome and We-Saw are primarily for younger students and are aspects of the larger playground experience for all children.

We continue to find ways to improve our space and make small changes that have a positive impact. The soccer goal is used daily, and we are looking at ways to increase safety in that portion of the playground. Additionally, in these first few days, we are learning from the students about the areas that are most enjoyable (the slide) and those that may need additional guidelines and precautions based on our students' age and stage.

Additionally, the new yellow/gold turf is laid over a padded foam cushion that is rated for safety, given the structures' higher elevation. Students can still run and jump, but the padded surface helps reduce bumps and bruises from falls. The green turf has been refreshed, and additional attention was paid to reducing the compaction of the fill near the shed and sandbox.

After the first week of School, we have been thrilled that our students have enjoyed the new space so much. We are also thankful to those of you who have made generous donations to fund the project. While we have not yet fully paid for the work we have done, we appreciate those who have contributed. We welcome the conversation if you would like to give a gift to fund the project. You can contact me directly or Tiffani Harris, our Director of Development. Every gift counts, and we look forward to more opportunities to fund projects that benefit the whole school.

On behalf of the teachers, thank you for a terrific start and your support of our School and our new Playground!

Regards,
Matt Evans