Learn More and Donate Now at our GoFundMe page >
Welcome!
This page is intended to provide information regarding the active space at Green Lake Elementary. For more information, submit an idea, express a concern, or to get involved please send inquires via email to playgroundcommittee@greenlakedragons.org.
Overview
We’re working to make our playground a safer, more fun and inclusive space where all Green Lake students can play.
The playground committee was formed in March of 2018 to facilitate the installation of "turf" in lieu of the blacktop that currently exists. This project was inspired by and made possible through generous funding donations from the Ahrens family via the Jack Ahrens Memorial Fund, as well as the parents of Green Lake Elementary during the annual school auction.
While the goal of "turf" was the initial catalyst, the project blossomed into a broader plan to reimagine the entire playground, with these as our guiding principles:
1. Develop a strategic master plan that provides an inclusive play experience mindful of our diverse students, families, and community;
2. Retro-fit active space and develop unused space so that it encourages social and emotional self-development of our students through play; and
3. Honor the memory of Jack Ahrens.
Our school is 1 of only 3 public elementary schools in Seattle that provides special programs and resources for students with severe physical and cognitive challenges. Currently, these students cannot access much of the active space at our school for peer-to-peer play and other social and emotional growth opportunities. Our master plan includes an ADA compliant ramp from the school's main level down to the play ground plus soft surfaces underfoot for improved accessibility and inclusivity.
A 3-phase project
Our plans are ambitious but well within reach, thanks to the ongoing support of our parent community and PTA efforts to secure grants and other major donations. To ensure that we have progress and tangible improvements, we are rolling the project out in 3 phases:
■ Phase 1: Design (complete)
■ Phase 2A: replace existing equipment, resurfacing (in progress)
■ Phase 2B: Hillside improvement and ADA compliant ramp
(pending funds. Fundraising is almost 90% complete as of March 2021! Just $50k more to go!)
■ Phase 3: Turf field, track, beautification (future)
While the goal of "turf" was the initial catalyst, the project blossomed into a broader plan to reimagine the entire playground, with these as our guiding principles:
1. Develop a strategic master plan that provides an inclusive play experience mindful of our diverse students, families, and community;
2. Retro-fit active space and develop unused space so that it encourages social and emotional self-development of our students through play; and
3. Honor the memory of Jack Ahrens.
Our school is 1 of only 3 public elementary schools in Seattle that provides special programs and resources for students with severe physical and cognitive challenges. Currently, these students cannot access much of the active space at our school for peer-to-peer play and other social and emotional growth opportunities. Our master plan includes an ADA compliant ramp from the school's main level down to the play ground plus soft surfaces underfoot for improved accessibility and inclusivity.
A 3-phase project
Our plans are ambitious but well within reach, thanks to the ongoing support of our parent community and PTA efforts to secure grants and other major donations. To ensure that we have progress and tangible improvements, we are rolling the project out in 3 phases:
■ Phase 1: Design (complete)
■ Phase 2A: replace existing equipment, resurfacing (in progress)
■ Phase 2B: Hillside improvement and ADA compliant ramp
(pending funds. Fundraising is almost 90% complete as of March 2021! Just $50k more to go!)
■ Phase 3: Turf field, track, beautification (future)
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Project status: latest updates
March 2021: Just $50k left to go before April 2021, for Phase 2B accessible hillside improvement!
We received a generous $150,000 donation at the end of 2020, which put us well in sight of our goal. Our Playground Committee continues to seek grants and meet regularly with Seattle public schools to keep them apprised of our progress and discuss project logistics and next steps.
Learn more and give now at our GoFundMe page >, and share our story with your friends and family!
Meanwhile:
The old playground equipment in our main play area has been replaced thanks to the Seattle Public Schools BEX levy, and in addition we have added a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round. The new equipment is beautiful but a little spare at the moment. We hope to add more elements through successful fundraising for Phase 2B.
November 2020: focus on fundraising to get Phase 2B completed in time for the next school year!
Thanks to the Jack Ahrens Memorial Fund, the GLES community, and other generous partners including our neighbors, the Hearthstone, we have raised $135,000 toward our goal of $350,000. We are applying for grants and reaching out to our community to help close the gap.
Learn more and give now at our GoFundMe page >, and share our story with your friends and family!
Oct 2020: SPS BEX levy
In the midst of our fundraising effort, SPS identified the GLES playground as 'out of code' and devoted BEX levy funds for updates. This necessitated modifications to our active space master plan. The revisions affect the areas surrounding the new play structure and include improvements to the hillside to create additional play space and construction of an ADA compliant ramp. Currently, our medically fragile students cannot access our playground without traveling two city blocks to the back of the school. Also, our design includes soft surfaces on the hillside and under the play structure to accommodate mobility and promote inclusivity.
Phase 2: Hillside improvement and ADA compliant ramp
While SPS develops the new play structure design, we continue to work with our design firm, SiteWorkshop, to improve the surrounding play space. Depending on the permit schedule, we hope to construct these improvements alongside SPS in the summer of 2020. We are awaiting final plans from SPS so that we can create the appropriate construction documents for our project.
Fundraising for Phase 2:
From the Jack Ahrens Memorial Fund, the GLES community, and other generous partners including our neighbors, the Hearthstone, we have raised $135,000 toward our goal of $350,000. We are applying for grants and reaching out to our community to help close the gap.
Phase 2A:
SPS Playground equipment replacement is slated to start Monday, Sept 15, 2020. They will be removing all the play equipment on the lower semi circle and installing new equipment. This is expected to be complete mid October. See Snap shot below:
March 2021: Just $50k left to go before April 2021, for Phase 2B accessible hillside improvement!
We received a generous $150,000 donation at the end of 2020, which put us well in sight of our goal. Our Playground Committee continues to seek grants and meet regularly with Seattle public schools to keep them apprised of our progress and discuss project logistics and next steps.
Learn more and give now at our GoFundMe page >, and share our story with your friends and family!
Meanwhile:
The old playground equipment in our main play area has been replaced thanks to the Seattle Public Schools BEX levy, and in addition we have added a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round. The new equipment is beautiful but a little spare at the moment. We hope to add more elements through successful fundraising for Phase 2B.
November 2020: focus on fundraising to get Phase 2B completed in time for the next school year!
Thanks to the Jack Ahrens Memorial Fund, the GLES community, and other generous partners including our neighbors, the Hearthstone, we have raised $135,000 toward our goal of $350,000. We are applying for grants and reaching out to our community to help close the gap.
Learn more and give now at our GoFundMe page >, and share our story with your friends and family!
Oct 2020: SPS BEX levy
In the midst of our fundraising effort, SPS identified the GLES playground as 'out of code' and devoted BEX levy funds for updates. This necessitated modifications to our active space master plan. The revisions affect the areas surrounding the new play structure and include improvements to the hillside to create additional play space and construction of an ADA compliant ramp. Currently, our medically fragile students cannot access our playground without traveling two city blocks to the back of the school. Also, our design includes soft surfaces on the hillside and under the play structure to accommodate mobility and promote inclusivity.
Phase 2: Hillside improvement and ADA compliant ramp
While SPS develops the new play structure design, we continue to work with our design firm, SiteWorkshop, to improve the surrounding play space. Depending on the permit schedule, we hope to construct these improvements alongside SPS in the summer of 2020. We are awaiting final plans from SPS so that we can create the appropriate construction documents for our project.
Fundraising for Phase 2:
From the Jack Ahrens Memorial Fund, the GLES community, and other generous partners including our neighbors, the Hearthstone, we have raised $135,000 toward our goal of $350,000. We are applying for grants and reaching out to our community to help close the gap.
Phase 2A:
SPS Playground equipment replacement is slated to start Monday, Sept 15, 2020. They will be removing all the play equipment on the lower semi circle and installing new equipment. This is expected to be complete mid October. See Snap shot below:
The PTA supplemented the SPS budget so that we could have a more extensive play structure as well as an in ground, wheelchair accessible "merry-go-round"
2. Phase 2B - The Hillside Ramp and Play Structures.
The Permit Drawings have been submitted and Siteworks is working on completing their resubmission that addresses City of Seattle Plan Check Comments as well as SPS approval comments.
The next major effort fort his phase is fundraising. The GLES PTA needs to generate approximately $240,000 in order to complete our full vision of providing an accessible ramp and adding play structures along the hillside to the school.
There is a lot of work to do on the fundraising. If we can get close to $190,000 raised by February 2021, it is possible that we could start construction by Mid Summer 2021. It is a steep task, but as I have been reminded by John Leahy's video backdrop...."Together we can do hard things".
2. Phase 2B - The Hillside Ramp and Play Structures.
The Permit Drawings have been submitted and Siteworks is working on completing their resubmission that addresses City of Seattle Plan Check Comments as well as SPS approval comments.
The next major effort fort his phase is fundraising. The GLES PTA needs to generate approximately $240,000 in order to complete our full vision of providing an accessible ramp and adding play structures along the hillside to the school.
- We are close to launching a Go-Fund-Me Campaign that we hope the GLES community can both help support as well as distribute across their personal networks.
- We are also identifying grants that we can apply for. One of which, the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Matching Funds, could potentially provide us with $50,000 of our goal, however, we will need to have raised $190,000 in order to apply for this grant. The next opportunity we have to apply for this grant is mid-February.
- We are working on a Donor Paver campaign as well. We are working on details on how to reinforce our commitment to equity and perhaps have the pavers not have individual names.
- Community Donations
- There are some elements within the Phase 2A that could be sponsored by businesses and organizations within the community, such as park benches, our concrete seating areas or even a garden area.
There is a lot of work to do on the fundraising. If we can get close to $190,000 raised by February 2021, it is possible that we could start construction by Mid Summer 2021. It is a steep task, but as I have been reminded by John Leahy's video backdrop...."Together we can do hard things".
Documents:
| gles-hillside_ramp_and_playground-11x17reduced.pdf |
| 2018_0108_gles_analysis_sheets_from_siteworkshop.pdf |
| gles_student_exercise_for_playground_project_120518.pdf |
| gles_playground_survey_results__1_pager.pdf |
| green_lake_elementary_community_meeting_flyer_for_120718.pdf |
| site_overview_for_green_lake_elementary_self_help_application_050418.pdf |
| siteworkshop_public_meeting_2_presentation_022619.pdf |
Archived Events
Proposed Timeline
Phase 2: Hillside improvement and ADA compliant ramp
Jan 21 - 24, 2020 GLES students participate in survey to determine the type of play equipment they'd like to see in the new playground
Jan 27 - Feb 14, 2020 SPS reviews survey feedback and provides data to contracted design firm (Weisman Design Group) to develop a Request for Proposal.
Feb 17 - Mar 13, 2020 RFPs issued to SPS vendors to develop playground designs
Mar 16 - Mar 30, 2020 SPS reviews designs to ensure designs are in accordance with district standards, price, capacity, play value and SPS contract terms.
April 2020 GLES students, staff, and families select their preferred option. This information will be used to finalize a playground equipment package.
June/July 2020 Break ground on playground construction
Phase 2: Hillside improvement and ADA compliant ramp
Jan 21 - 24, 2020 GLES students participate in survey to determine the type of play equipment they'd like to see in the new playground
Jan 27 - Feb 14, 2020 SPS reviews survey feedback and provides data to contracted design firm (Weisman Design Group) to develop a Request for Proposal.
Feb 17 - Mar 13, 2020 RFPs issued to SPS vendors to develop playground designs
Mar 16 - Mar 30, 2020 SPS reviews designs to ensure designs are in accordance with district standards, price, capacity, play value and SPS contract terms.
April 2020 GLES students, staff, and families select their preferred option. This information will be used to finalize a playground equipment package.
June/July 2020 Break ground on playground construction
Wednesday, March 20th 2019
The 3rd and final public meeting was held at Green Lake Elementary to review the final design plans. Public feedback was gathered and will be used to formalize the final conceptual master plan.
Tuesday, March 12th 2019
Monthly committee was held where the group reviewed the feedback from the 2nd public meeting. Discussions also took place regarding fundraising requirements.
Tuesday, February 26th 2019
The 2nd public meeting was held at Green Lake Elementary to review the preliminary design plans. Public feedback was gathered and will be used to formalize the final conceptual master plan.
The 3rd and final public meeting was held at Green Lake Elementary to review the final design plans. Public feedback was gathered and will be used to formalize the final conceptual master plan.
Tuesday, March 12th 2019
Monthly committee was held where the group reviewed the feedback from the 2nd public meeting. Discussions also took place regarding fundraising requirements.
Tuesday, February 26th 2019
The 2nd public meeting was held at Green Lake Elementary to review the preliminary design plans. Public feedback was gathered and will be used to formalize the final conceptual master plan.
Community Partners & Sponsors:
Thank you to the parents, businesses, and everyone in the community who continue to support Green Lake Elementary through your financial and volunteer donations.
The on-going effort to improve the active space at Green Lake Elementary cannot be possible without community support both private and public. A grant from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has made it possible to fund the current Playground Project that includes the development of a strategic master plan.
“This project is funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Fund award from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods."
Thank you to the parents, businesses, and everyone in the community who continue to support Green Lake Elementary through your financial and volunteer donations.
The on-going effort to improve the active space at Green Lake Elementary cannot be possible without community support both private and public. A grant from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has made it possible to fund the current Playground Project that includes the development of a strategic master plan.
“This project is funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Fund award from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods."
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