Fox Cities News

Despite the heat on the mid-summer evening of Tuesday, June 25, 2024, community members, neighbors, local business partners, and Oshkosh Area School District families and staff gathered at Read Elementary School to celebrate the completion of the recent playground renovation project.

At its conception in December 2022, the Read playground project—led by Read parent Jennifer Skolaski and Read principal Emily Eisenschink—aimed to reimagine how the school and community could best utilize outdoor spaces to improve students’ physical and mental well-being. The project leaders recognized this as an opportunity to update outdoor facilities while providing children with safer and more enriching play environments.

Beyond physical improvements, project leaders were motivated by building community partnerships to create a space where everyone could feel they belong. Providing visibility to Read students and staff and uplifting diverse backgrounds was another driving force behind the project.

After raising a significant portion of the needed funds, construction began in summer 2023. A highlight was the Women’s Build on August 15, 2023, sponsored by the Women's Fund of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Over 100 women and girls participated in building projects that made both inside and outside areas of Read Elementary School more welcoming. Their work included installing a Rocket backdrop on the softball diamond, spray painting bike racks, adding stones to the entryway, painting a life-sized Candy Land game board in the back parking lot, among other improvements inside.

On September 24, 2023, fire station and fire truck playground structures were completed and opened to both school and community use. Throughout the school year of 2023-2024, further additions included an outdoor classroom, little free library, stage area, interactive music area, book walk, cedar house tree-to-tree walk ninja course soccer goals community garden beds tulip chairs playground fence fire hydrant themed bike racks custom-wrapped transformer featuring new logo two-sided mural exterior building

During grand opening celebration private event held afternoon thank donors local businesses partners volunteers staff fundraising efforts design coordination installation new grounds commemorative fire hose uncoupling ceremony presentation impact statements project's leaders school staff students

A public celebration followed immediately after private event Families community members invited play expansive new playground enjoy wide selection fun activities including real fire truck meet greet Marshall Paw Patrol Firefighter John Oshkosh Fire Department free face painting Kona Ice books United Way Dolly Parton Imagination Library music Will Nye DJ Guy

Hundreds attendance served wonderful reminder importance providing safe enriching spaces children families completion total $550000 donated outpouring support deeply appreciated inspiring see dedicated investing students opportunities grow thrive sense belonging within their community

Learn more about Read Playground Project unique features revitalized space readplayground.com/project-updates