In spring 2019, implementation of the big plan began, including the paved oval and circle, the defined swale, and invisible drainage trenches.  Our beautiful chicken coop, the swing seat by the entry, the front perennial garden and apple trees also appeared through parent and classroom efforts.   

Additionally, in June 2019, parent volunteers placed heavy duty erosion control sod in different locations around the play yard and lovingly watered, fertilized and mowed through the summers.  What we see today is that wherever the drainage is sufficient, that sod continues to grow, and vice versa it does not grow nor compete with the foot traffic where the drainage is poor.   

In March 2020, everything came to a halt during the early days of Covid. With school shut down through 2021 and then conditional re-openings by 2021/2, new priorities and solutions were needed like outdoor classrooms and eating areas.  

As a charter school, Winterberry is responsible for all building and maintenance costs and this comes from our all-school budget.  

Building a play yard is outside that funding source and will need to be grassroots, homegrown, and volunteer driven.