At the end of last year, a team of parents and school leaders formed the Thoreau Playground Committee to lead this effort as part of a broader, district-supported initiative to restore and enhance our campus. Our mission is to design, fund, and build a vibrant, inclusive play space that will benefit our students and the broader community for years to come. We are prioritizing:

-Engaging, challenging equipment for children of all ages.
-Inclusive design, ensuring all students can play together
-A connection to nature that fosters exploration, discovery, and open-ended play

This is not just a playground—this is Thoreau’s Backyard: a place that honors the importance of outdoor play in children’s lives.

But here’s the thing, we need your help. Bringing this vision to life will take more than just enthusiasm. Once we finalize the design, this project will depend on successful fundraising. Thoreau’s Backyard will only become a reality with the support and funding of our community.

This is our opportunity to create something that will benefit our children—and our community—for decades. We can’t wait to see what we’ll create, together.

Visit our website at thoreasbackyard.com for more information and updates. Please contact team@thoreausbackyard.com with questions.

Help Us Build A New Playground!

By Thoreau's Backyard

Help Us Build A New Playground!

We’re building a new playground at Thoreau Elementary and we need your help!

Team Members