After years of planning and fundraising, Golden’s Shelton Elementary School finally has a new playground.
The school was hosting community build days June 12-13, where current and former students, parents, staff members and other volunteers — about 30 people total — were installing new jungle gym equipment.
The previous playground, which was original to the 30-year-old school, didn’t have a slide, seesaws and other popular features.
Several Shelton students, parents and teachers described how it seemed more like outdoor fitness equipment for adults, rather than a playground for children.
Twins Hazel and Lily Reitz, who will be fourth-graders at Shelton next year, were thrilled to see their new playground taking shape. They were helping their parents and others assemble it on June 12, and were excited to have slides and other fun features their playground didn’t have before.
Middle-schoolers Miles Lorenc and Will Clark, who were also volunteering Thursday, were happy their younger siblings would have new, high-quality equipment to play on now.
The playground is open to the public during non-school hours, so the two Shelton graduates planned to return and play on it sometime.
Volunteers hoped to have the bulk of the playground installed by June 13, but organizers said there would be a few smaller projects around the playground before it’s completely ready. That included installing mobility paths to ensure all the elements are accessible, and updating the Buddy Bench.
School officials said they were planning to host a ribbon-cutting for the playground when classes resume in August.
To volunteer for the June 13 community build day, check out the SignUpGenius here. Older children are welcome to volunteer as they’re able.
Open to all
The Shelton PTSA has been fundraising for new playground equipment for more than five years.
Principal Michael Zweifel said she was excited for current and future Shelton students, and local children who can enjoy it during non-school hours, all of whom will be able to enjoy this new playground.
Not only will it have those popular and long-awaited features, like a slide, but Zweifel emphasized how it’ll be open to and inclusive of all users.
“Everyone will be able to play on it,” she said.
PTSA President Maya Chain and member Sarah Hawkins have emphasized how the improved playground’s surface will be ADA accessible, versus the rocky ground that was there before. The jungle gym will also be ADA accessible and at least one of the new swings will be able to accommodate wheelchairs.
Additionally, they said, it will have several features for children who are neurodiverse and/or have sensory needs. Those include music features and communication boards with letters and symbols.
It takes a village…
Chain and Hawkins said the project wouldn’t have been possible without donors and supporters from Golden and all over Colorado. Accounting for the donated work and materials, including demolishing the old equipment, the two PTSA members said the playground’s final price tag was around $250,000.
According to Chain and Hawkins, along with support from school families and individuals across Golden:
- The City of Golden awarded a $65,000 grant for the project;
- 9News’ Kyle Clark featured the project in a “Word of Thanks” segment, which drew interest and donations from across the state;
- Equipment supplier Altitude Recreation matched $90,000 for the main structure; and
- The Denver-based Weitz Company donated personnel and equipment for the June 12-13 community build days.
Additionally, last year’s third-grade classes sent out handwritten letters to local businesses and organizations, asking for their support. Many answered the call, donating money and/or hosting fundraising events for the project.
“It has taken the whole community to make this happen,” Chain said.
Hawkins added: “We’re so full of gratitude.”
Click through additional photos from the June 12 community build day:
On June 12, volunteers try to install a staircase on Shelton Elementary School’s new playground equipment. Along with current and former students, parents and staff members, employees from the Denver-based Weitz Company helped assemble the new playground during June 12-13 community build days. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Volunteers assemble Shelton Elementary School’s new playground equipment during a June 12 community build day. Current and former students, parents, staff and community members help assemble the playground June 12-13. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
On June 12, volunteers review assembly instructions for Shelton Elementary School’s new playground equipment. About 30 volunteers helped with the June 12 community build day, with a similar number of volunteers slated to finish the project the next day. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
On June 12, volunteers install pieces of jungle gym equipment at Shelton Elementary School’s main playground. The new playground equipment, which cost about $250,000, will be ADA accessible and have a variety of popular features. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Shelton Elementary School parent Sarah Hawkins unpacks and lays out pieces of playground equipment for assembly during a June 12 community build day. The school community, with help from donors across the state, have been fundraising for a new school playground for several years. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Tools and pieces of playground equipment are scattered about Shelton Elementary School’s new jungle gym. The school community, with help from donors across the state, have been fundraising for a new school playground for several years. Credit: Corinne Westeman Volunteers assemble Shelton Elementary School’s new playground equipment during a June 12 community build day. Unlike the school’s previous playground equipment, the new one will be ADA accessible. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Volunteers assemble Shelton Elementary School’s new playground equipment during a June 12 community build day. Current and former students, parents, staff and community members help assemble the playground June 12-13. Credit: Corinne Westeman