The Magic Maze Playground is rebuilt and reopened!

Thanks to work by hundreds of parents, staff, kids, community volunteers and local businesses from June 12 to 17, Charlton Heights Elementary School now has a brand new playground.  Below are a few photos from the last two days of construction to try to convey what a truly amazing effort and experience this was for all involved.

Under the direction of architects from Leathers & Associates, by Saturday, June 16, volunteers had built much of the Magic Maze on the lawn near of front of Charlton Heights, but much remained to be done.

Having so many skilled and willing workers in the community made a huge difference. Local folks brought their hand and power tools for the effort, and several local firms lent needed equipment as well, including a payloader and posthole digger.

The gingerbread house (above) and open pavilion (right) called for some careful carpentry.

There were jobs for folks of all ages and skills.

Volunteers served lunch and dinner in the school cafeteria for hundreds of workers on Saturday and Sunday. Construction was hot work in the summer sun, so there was also a hydration table under the trees, too, and runners to keep the workers supplied with water and Gatorade.

Young children were not permitted on the construction site, but older children (under their parents' supervision) were a great help, especially with the huge task of shoveling and spreading a thick layer of mulch around every bit of equipment and playground space.

The mulch is ground up tires -- which is not only a great example of recycling but also surprisingly springy to walk on. Just the thing for a safe playground!

Older children also helped paint playground equipment and provided childcare indoors for younger children so that their parents could focus on their work outdoors.

Teacher Carol Douglas (left) helps BH-BL Class of 2003 member Sonja Brun and her dad Mike Brun fasten a railing on the castle portion of the playground. Sonja recently graduated from college and enjoyed returning to Charlton Heights to work on the playground.

Throughout construction week there was no more excited worker than Charlton Heights principal Tim Sinnenberg, pictured below cutting a piece of the thick black matting that was placed under the mulch. At left below, Tim and Board of Education member John Blowers spread mulch around and under the rope stairs.

On Sunday evening a crowd of parents and children gathered near the entrance, waiting for their chance to be the first group to enjoy the new playground. Around 7:00 pm the saws and drills grew silent as workers finished up the last bits of construction and left the playground.

Children lined up to hold the paper chain that Mr. Sinnenberg and parent Karen Smith, co-chairs of the two-year planning and fund-raising effort, then cut to officially open the playground.

You can easily imagine what happened next! So much joy and excitement as all the children rushed to investigate every bit of the playground and try out every slide, swing, balance beam, and other new piece of equipment.

Some of the most popular pieces of equipment Sunday evening were the unusual climbing rope (below left) and climbing wall (below right.)

The playground also features a separate, fenced "Tot Lot" for preschoolers complete with smaller scale swings, slide, climbing tower and other equipment (not pictured).

Again, many thanks go out to all the individuals and businesses who came together to make this new facility a reality for BH-BL children and families to enjoy for years to come.

And an extra special Thank You! goes to all the dads who gave up their usual Father's Day activities on Sunday and who demonstrated what fatherhood is really all about by giving their time and talents to the community's children in this way.