Local Kids to Design the Final Playground Element at the New Kids Castle: Find Out How!

Calling all creative kids (in kindergarten through sixth grade) at Rowan Elementary, Haine Elementary, and St. Kilian School! 

Elementary students at these schools will all meet with representatives from Play by Design, the company creating the custom piece of playground equipment to go in the “Today” section of the new Cranberry Kids Castle playground. 

The company wants every student to give them an idea of what their “perfect” playground would look like. The designer will look at and comment on every drawing submitted. 

Drawings will be facilitated at school or, if you do not attend one of the above schools and want to submit a drawing, you may do so by submitting it to Cranberry Township Community Chest.  

Put your name and address on the back of the drawing. It must be received by March 1—that is only one month away.

Get busy kids, and have fun ! 

Send all drawings to CTCC at 2525 Rochester Road, Suite 450 or bring it to the customer service desk at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building. 

An opportunity like this only comes around every 25 years or so. Local children helped design the Playtime Palace and, because it produced an amazing playground, we are getting input from kids for the new Kids Castle Playground as well.

The designer will incorporate many of the most popular ideas from the children into the playground design. All drawings submitted will be returned with an official “Playground Designer Membership Card,” which we hope the children will be able to hang onto until late June. (Parents – please keep these cards somewhere safe!)

Why are these cards so important?

These cards will be how the kids can access the community build portion of the playground section in late June and be able to try it out for two whole days before it is shut down so the other sections can be built.

OK—so once again—PARENTS, DO NOT LOSE THE CARDS!

If you are confused and thinking the playground is not scheduled to open until September, you are correct. 

However, there was a little change-up in the schedule and now we are on a really tight time frame as it pertains to the community built section. 

Originally, the “Today” portion of the playground was scheduled to be built last, sometime in late September. 

Now, this will be the first section built. And, on top of that, it will be the only portion that will be built by the community, just like the Playtime Palace was 25 years ago! 

So, we need to quickly get the input from kids. We then will have the designer design the play space. The next step is to order the materials, clear the space and hopefully be ready to build in June.

For a community-built playground, we will need hundreds of volunteers.

We have planned out three four-hour shifts over the course of five days to build the playground. We will need volunteers of all levels. I will volunteer to run supplies and hold nails—or something. Everyone who knows me knows I should never be let to use power tools. Maybe I can be the water girl? 

Anyway, it is just another way Cranberry Township citizens can get involved and help make this playground a reality. If you think you could donate four hours of your week in June to help get the playground built, please go to www.CTCChest.org for more information and to sign up!

Another blog will be coming in a few days. The first blog outlining all the exciting developments and news was simply too long! 

Check back in a few days to learn more about our Corporate Ambassadors, who will be helping support and promote our mission to build an amazing new playground for our community. 

Go out and enjoy the Playtime Palace soon, these warm temps are not going to last!