Westchester Announces Construction of New Playground, Recreation Spaces

Westchester Country Day School students soon will enjoy new outdoor spaces to play and explore. The school will start construction on a new playground, recreation fields and courts, and improvements to walkways and driveways this summer.

The project is part of the Westchester Forward campaign, a multi-year investment in the school’s facilities and programs. The Congdon Foundation has donated $1.7 million to the current project to develop these outdoor spaces for children to enjoy and thrive.

"We are so excited to start this new project that will benefit all of our students and families at Westchester," said Cobb Atkinson, head of the school. "Our campus has 53 acres of outdoor space to be used to help our students develop ‘a sound mind in a sound body,’ as our school motto says. We are incredibly grateful to the Congdon Foundation for supporting us in creating an active and nurturing learning environment for our students."

The new spaces have an inclusive design and features for students of all ages. WCDS teachers and administrators researched and planned the spaces based on the foundational skills children need for academic, artistic, athletic and moral development. The layout will blend in with the natural landscape of the campus and will be constructed from low-maintenance materials. There will be shaded areas and interactive features to encourage social play and enhance a variety of skills.

“Children need unstructured play time to support their developing brain,” said Blair Hawley, head of Lower School. “These new outdoor spaces will provide endless possibilities of ways to play and will encourage students to run, jump, slide, skip, swing, balance, climb, socialize, pretend, ride and explore their creativity. Active children become active adults, which is so important for long-term health and happiness.”

Some of the features to be included in the playground and recreation spaces are as follows:

• Climbing structures - Climbing encourages healthy risk-taking, enhances decision-making, increases physical strength and boosts self-confidence. Overhead climbing supports the development of fine motor skills and spatial awareness and improves upper body and core strength.
• Swings - Swinging develops spatial awareness, coordination, motor skills, and core strength. It also helps children build a strong sensory system (see, touch, feel) and adapt to different environments or sensations. Sensory system development helps children with tasks such as focusing, walking in a line and keeping hands to themselves.
• Steps and climbing logs – Promote development of balance and coordination.
• Large, open spaces, including paved paths for walking or riding toys, turf fields, basketball court, and gaga ball pits – These spaces encourage cardio-friendly activities and opportunities for play that builds teamwork through organized games. Gaga ball, for example, is a game many WCDS students have experienced through summer camps and class trips. It promotes critical thinking and develops agility.
• Interactive game panels – Designed to encourage social play and enhance fine motor skills
• Musical features – Provide a creative outlet, promote imaginative play and spark interest in the arts

The project also includes covered walkways and improvements to the roads and driveways entering the campus. The school will close its entrance at Cascade Drive and route all carpool traffic to the main entrance off North Old Greensboro Road to make way for the new playground. The playground and an adjoining turf field and gaga ball pit will be constructed in the existing carpool circle. Another recreation space with a basketball court, turf field and gaga pit will be added to a former parking area. The existing playground will become open green space.

The school expects to break ground on the project following the conclusion of the school year in early June.