Planet Playground was a truly a grassroots undertaking. During the week of the build, more than 500 people came together to construct the half-acre structure.  We were in it from day one, gathering support across all demographics — residents, businesses and town government — engaging more than 1,500 volunteers of all ages and raising $300,000 to make the dream a reality. 

In every way, the community built this playground.  But it wasn’t until twelve years later, when the graduating senior class chose Planet Playground for their Senior Service Day project, that we realized the true outcome. Twelve years ago, friendships were born here — friendships that endured throughout elementary, middle and high school.  And now, as young adults, they had returned to freshen up the playground they built, where they met and played and grew up.  This was more than just a community-built playground.  It was a playground that built a community.