Phase I of the play park build was completed in late Fall 2005, only 9 months after the organization got off the ground. It included preparation of the playground site, purchasing and installing the play structures, the fence, and a state of the art safety play surface. The play surface was made possible by a $13,000 grant from the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation.

Phase II is currently in progress and is almost complete. This includes the installation of the sandbox, installation of the stepping stones made by families in our community, installation of a sculpture by a Beacon artist, donated by Tallix, purchasing toys and smaller play equipment, and the children's and Lawrence Way Memorial Garden. The group received a "Youth Garden Grants Program" award in 2005 from the National Gardening Association toward creating a child-friendly gardening component for the playground, as well as a Disney "Minnie Grant" to purchase additional plants and gardening equipment. Additional funds raised by the organization's annual "Ree Play Sale" in the Spring will go towards other projects to complete the garden, as well as working to obtain a permanent shade structure.

Shade is a very important issue for this playground, and we are currently exploring ways to best provide the needed shade as soon as possible. Some of the ideas that are being discussed and researched include purchasing and planting a mature Sugar Maple in a strategic location as well as a row of fast growing poplars between the two existing playgrounds. Meanwhile, we are striving to educate our community about how to play safe in the sun. The following informational article has a very balanced view on this very important health issue:

Empire State Carpenter's Training Center Apprentices on the new Wee Play Children's Garden Bridge - October, 2007

Wee Play Children's Park Progress Report - June 30, 2008

Phase I: (Completed)

Site Prep

Play surface installed

Large play equipment installed

Fence installed

Phase II: (In Progress)

Sand pit excavated and installed

Temporary shade structure installed

Stepping Stones installed

Site preparation (fill, topsoil, rocks, garden hardscaping) - completed

Benches installed

Caterpillar climber installed

Cedar posts installed

Sensory/Memorial Garden planted

Butterfly Garden (in progress - Spring 2009)

Crane Sculpture installed (in progress) - September 2008

Trees planted (in progress - 3 of 4 planted; plus newly planned shade row between playgrounds - September 2008)

Log circle & Log chunks around sandbox (in progress - September 2008)

Phase III: (Pending funding)

Permanent notice kiosk

Permanent shade structure

Develop and implement kids' programming