by Tami Vinson, Director of Development and Engagement
We were thrilled to open our new playground on Friday, September 6th! Students left our all-school assembly in the gym and gathered round to cheer on our beloved Physical Education and Health Teacher, Mr. Onderdonk, take the inaugural ride down the embankment slide! Kids chanted “Go Mr. O!” all the way down. Afterwards, all students in first through eighth grade got to have extra morning recess time to check out all the new features.
With the construction timeline extending into the first few weeks of school, anticipation built up each day at recess. Students watched excitedly at the orange construction fence as the crew got closer and closer to completion. A couple students mentioned seeing the construction crew testing out the slide and even noted “They looked like they were having a lot of fun and they deserve it!” From moving boulders to enclose the natural loose parts play area, adding a walkway and safety guards to the boulder scramble, and placing the new tree stumps and tires, the students got to watch it come to fruition. Students were especially curious when the cave was installed! Each day at carline, the kids asked “Is the playground opening today?”
The delayed construction timeline offered a silver lining. The students’ gratitude for the hard work involved in building the new playground was immense. It made the grand opening celebration all the more exciting and meaningful. Each day since opening it, we have all enjoyed watching the kids engage with the new features.
With our students’ love for the “forbidden forest” and natural spaces of our campus, we wanted to build off of that appreciation and add elements that connected to nature for children to fill with their impressive imaginations, joyful spirits, and energetic bodies. Research indicates that exposure to natural elements can lower stress, boost concentration, and improve overall mental well-being. By integrating aspects of nature into our play environments, our students can experience the restorative benefits of outdoor play and a connection to the natural world.
Our boulder scramble encourages physical activity, helping children develop strength, balance, and coordination while navigating various heights and surfaces. This play fosters creativity and problem-solving as kids explore different routes and tackle natural obstacles, enhancing their motor skills and overall fitness. As they engage in this controlled yet adventurous play, children also develop critical thinking, spatial awareness, and risk assessment skills. Scrambling is an exhilarating way to build early mountaineering skills and prepares children for hiking in our beautiful Rocky Mountains. We really love that the rocks so easily blend into our hill and are a unique and attractive feature on our playground. Students are also enjoying practicing their balance and agility as they walk across the boulders surrounding the new loose parts play area.
Fun fact: all of the boulders used in the scramble and play area were sourced from our Rocky Mountains – the Floyd Hill area of I-70 to be exact! Thanks to the generosity of Kraemer North America, who is managing the Floyd Hill construction project, we were able to attain all our unique boulders used in the scramble and the border around the loose parts play area. A big heartfelt thank you to Mack parent, Matt Hogan for arranging this in-kind donation! This aspect of the project highlights our commitment to building with sustainable materials and trying to do our part for our environment. In addition, our safety guards around the scramble are made from recycled rubber and amount to saving 31 tires from going into a landfill!
Our new embankment slide integrates seamlessly into our hill, maximizing our outdoor space while delivering endless thrills. The slide not only offers excitement but also sparks scientific curiosity. Climbing the hill builds potential energy due to gravity, which is transformed into kinetic energy when sliding down, effectively demonstrating concepts of acceleration and velocity. Additionally, the slide engages both proprioceptive and kinesthetic responses, making it a dynamic tool for illustrating various branches of mathematics, including geometry. Beyond the fun, it encourages physical activity, helping children stay fit while developing essential motor skills and coordination.
The cave offers a quiet place where students can enjoy a bit of downtime on the playground. That being said, within the first week of the grand opening, a group of students wanted to know how many kids would fit in the cave. The magic number was 11! We also added small natural wooden tables with seating for students to read a book, play chess with a friend, or incorporate into their imaginative play. It’s been wonderful to see students enjoying these tables in the loose parts play areas and near the front patio. 
Our loose parts play area fosters creativity and promotes peer interaction, enhancing social cohesion. These versatile materials ignite children’s imaginations, encouraging them to creatively integrate various components into their play. Loose parts facilitate open-ended learning and enhance problem-solving skills. Tree stumps, repurposed tires, rocks, and tree cookies provide limitless opportunities for imaginative exploration during recess.
These playground updates are part of a multi-year plan of enhancements to our outdoor areas for learning, exploration, and discovery. We set out to create environments that encourage free and imaginative play, physical activity, and team building. We wanted to make the best use of our open spaces and opportunities for students to take in the fresh air and connect with nature throughout the day.
This project would not have been possible without the generous support of our community of donors. We extend immense gratitude to all those who contributed with generosity to the Mack Fund and playground project. Thank you for helping to bring these plans to life for our students!
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Eric Crotty, our playground designer, whose creativity and dedication brought this project to life. Eric’s thoughtful design beautifully integrates natural elements into our play space, creating an environment that encourages adventure, learning, and connection with nature. We also appreciate our construction partners at JPL Cares for their work in installing our new playground features. This truly was a community project from start to finish!
