Honoring a Legacy: A New Playground for Neskowin Valley School

For generations, the playground at Neskowin Valley School (NVS) has been a place where children learned to take risks, build confidence, and create lifelong memories. It was lovingly built piece by piece by dedicated staff, families, and donors. However, with NVS's unwavering commitment to ensuring access to education for all children on the Oregon Coast, fundraising efforts have long been focused on Financial Aid and Operational Costs—leaving the playground in the background.

Today, we have an opportunity to change that, thanks to NVS alumna Erica Morgan. Erica is honoring her late father, Richie Morgan, by leading a fundraising campaign to build a brand-new playground for the next generation of NVS students.

Richie and Lovetta Morgan sent their three children to NVS to instill a life-long passion for exploration and learning. Richie Morgan was a devoted father and husband who prioritized a strong foundation of education and adventure for his children—Erica, Isaac, and Rachel—who all attended NVS in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Morgan children thrived at the school, and the playground was a space where they learned to take chances, challenge themselves, and embrace the joy of play.

When Erica and her partner, Nate, visited NVS in the fall of 2023, they were surprised to see the same playground equipment from the 1990s still in use. That moment sparked a powerful idea.

"To best honor Richie’s legacy of exploration and risk-taking, we’re going to build a new playground for the next generation," said Erica.

Richie's adventurous spirit lives on in his children. He excelled in soccer, baseball, and basketball and later enjoyed CrossFit with his son, Isaac. Today, Isaac is a marathon runner, a CrossFit enthusiast, and a partner at a law firm in Frederick, Maryland. His sister Rachel works in the U.S. Senate managing legislative operations on the Senate Floor and stays active with Pure Barre and Peloton. Erica, who works at the Pentagon for the Air Force in legislative affairs, recently completed the Army 10-Miler and also trains on Peloton.

The Morgan family’s dedication to perseverance, adventure, and community aligns perfectly with the spirit of NVS. Now, they are asking for your help in bringing this vision to life.

This new playground will be a tribute to Richie’s legacy and a gift to the future students of NVS—a space where they, too, can learn, grow, and embrace adventure through play.

We invite you to join us in making this dream a reality. Your donation, no matter the size, will contribute to building a safe, inspiring, and adventurous playground that will benefit NVS students for years to come.

Let’s build something incredible together.

Donate today and help us honor Richie Morgan’s legacy through the power of play.

Neskowin Valley School is an accredited, independent Preschool-Grade 8 school located in South Tillamook County with a curriculum and environment that foster a desire for lifelong learning. Students benefit from small class sizes, multi-age classes, integration of subject matter, a comprehensive approach to literacy, and individualized, varied approaches to education. NVS values outdoor and experiential learning and place-based projects that immerse students in the extensive natural areas of the Oregon Coast.

Pictures from the 80's:

Pictures from the 2000's:

NVS - Richie Morgan Memorial Playground Fund

By Neskowin Valley School

NVS - Richie Morgan Memorial Playground Fund

Honoring a Legacy: A New Playground for Neskowin Valley School

Team Members