Playgrounds should nOT look like prison yards 🐾
An ongoing project of Monforton Moves to restore and upgrade Monforton School’s playgrounds and outdoor spaces.
🛝
Project UPdate
The Phase 1 playground clean-up effort is done! We are so thankful to the families, individuals, teachers/staff, and businesses that helped us make a huge positive impact to the playground.
See THIS PAGE for photos and an update from the project organizers.
How Can I Contribute?
You can help by volunteering your time, or donating money* to the program (or both).
Volunteer 👷♀️👷
This clean-up is only possible through a large outpouring of donated time from our school families. Commit to contributing your time on Tuesday, August 6th using SignUpGenius. We start at 7:30am and will go to ~2pm. Come when you can, even if it’s only for an hour!
We need:
- Labors
- Skilled Tradesmen
- Painters
- Artists
- Supporters/Runners
Donate* 💰
Every dollar counts. We expect we will need $50k to $80k to complete a full playground facelift and expansion.
Examples of project costs:
- $10 buys a can of spray paint
- $30 buys a yard of top soil
- $40 buys a yard of playground bark
- $50 buys a 3 ft2 of new sidewalk
- $100 buys 16ft of wood edging
- $200 buys a swing set wear mat
- $500 buys…. a lot
- $700 buys a durable basketball backboard and rim
- $1200 buys an inclusive ADA swing
- $2000 buys a slide!
Overview
The Wildcat Playground Revitalization project is:
- A multi-year project
- Organized by Monforton Moves
- Made possible by volunteers/parents
- Funded through donations and grants
The explosive growth of Monforton has left our playgrounds and outdoor spaces in disrepair and generally overused. It is time to restore our current play facilities back to a safe and enjoyable state. In the coming years, this program will add new play installations to both the Elementary School and Middle School playgrounds.
Current State
While all playground and outdoor spaces at Monforton need attention, it is the Elementary School playground that has the greatest need. Due to the failed 2023 Bond, the planned renovation of the playground never happened. And it seems unlikely it will occur anytime soon.
The time for action is NOW and will take multiple years to complete.
Phase 1 – August 6th, 2024
Monforton Moves asks everyone to join us on Tuesday, August 6th to complete a handful of projects that will make an immediate impact before students head back to school. Many hands will make short work. Work will begin at 7:30am and will continue until we are finished. With enough hands, we expect to wrap up by 2pm. We will have heavy snacks and drinks to help power us through the hard work.
Project Areas
Swing Set Area Revitalization
We will be cleaning out the 31′ x 33′ area within the swing set border, laying down new weed barrier, and covering it with 4″ of fresh new bark. Additionally, rubber kick mats will be installed to help prevent wear and “lakes” from developing.
See: Project Planning Documents
Paint/Replace Basketball Backboards and Posts
We will resurface and repaint the basketball backboards. Posts will be given a fresh coat of paint. New nets will be installed.
See: Project Notes/Images
New Blacktop Play Area Features
We are going to clean off and paint new play features into the extensive blacktop spaces available on the playground. We have some really fun ideas for new activities for students!
See: Project Planning Documents
Oodle Swing Space Reclamation
A brand new swing set has been added to the playground, but it was too large to go into the old “Oodle” swing area. Because of this, we are going to remove the old swing area’s border, regrade the area, and restore it to a space that can be used to play ball-sports. Attempts will be made to grow grass.
General Weeding and Rock Clean-Up
We can make a ton of impact by pulling some larger weeds in the rocky areas, and also helping any wayward rocks find there way back into the landscaping beds. With a few hands, we can make a big visual impact very quickly.
Volunteer Needs
We need volunteer workers who can help us tackle these projects by contributing their muscles, brains, and enthusiasm. We start work at 7:30 am and will continue to ~2pm. Come when you can, even if you only have an hour to spare.
General Equipment Asks
If you have them available, please bring these with you:
- Gloves
- A water bottle
- Yard rakes/Shovels
- Bucket
- Pop-Up Tent (for shade while working)
Special Equipment Asks
We have some additional special equipment asks if anyone has them available. Please email president@monfortonmoves.org if you can contribute any of these special items.
- Wheelbarrows
- Dump Trailers/Dump Truck
- Ground compactor
- Pry/Digging bars
- Sledge Hammer
- Paint Sprayer
- Skid Steer or Track Loader with Bucket (could use 1 more)
Special Supply Asks:
We are looking for contributions of supplies materials from anyone who may have surplus or be looking to make a specific donation.
- Grass Seed
- Top Soil
🧑💻👷♂️👨💼👨🎨
Have a Business or Professional Skill?
Do you have a business that would like to donate in-kind materials or labor?
Can you help us purchase supplies at lower cost than retail?
Do you have a speciality skill that would help the project such as graphic design, photography, landscape design, civil engineering, excavation, surface grading?
Are you an amazing project planner looking to lead a project area?
Contact president@monfortonmoves.org to discuss ways you can help this ongoing effort!
Future Projects
This is just the beginning. We have multiple years of projects ahead of us. Here is a preview of what is being considered.
- Elementary School Southern Play Area Revitalization
- Perimeter Fencing
- Outdoor Mural
- See: Project Notes/Images
- Grassy Area grading/surface replacement/drainage correction
- Sand Pit (Jump Pit) relocation
- See: Project Notes/Images
- Natural Play Area Installation (with Slides!!!)
- Playground Access Sidewalk
- River Rock strip improvements
Interested in contributing to the planning and leadership of these projects. Reach out to president@monfortonmoves.org.
More Information
For more information, contact Monforton Moves at president@monfortonmoves.org
* All donated money goes to the Monforton School Foundation, a 501c3 organization. Anything donated will be spent on playground/facilities maintenance and improvements.
Project Progress
This section showcases progress made on the playground revitalization effort.
New Elementary School Swing Set
The school administration bought and installed a brand new swing set for the elementary school playground. It is already in and will be awaiting kids in the Fall of 2024. It adds 4 more swinging positions to the playground.
Monforton Moves is looking to additionally install rubber wear mats, as well as fund and add an accessible ADA swing.
