If you’ve walked past the school lately, you may have noticed: Thoreau’s Backyard is starting to look a lot more like the space we imagined when this project began.

But we’re not done yet. The last stretch needs people on site, with tools in hand. Over the next several weeks, we’re planning weekend build days to put the finishing touches on the space.

What a joy it has been to see kids using the new playground equipment these past few days! Phase I of construction is nearly complete, and the energy at dismissal has been incredible. The “treehouse,” the boulders, the spinners, and everything else are already being enthusiastically put to good use.

We hope you're enjoying summer! We're excited to share that the first phase of construction is about to begin at Thoreau! Here’s a tentative timeline for what to expect in the coming months.

This Saturday, May 24, from 1:00 – 7:00 PM, the Rotary Club of Concord is hosting MusicFest, a free, family-friendly concert at Rideout Park in West Concord. Proceeds from this year’s event will go directly to Thoreau’s Backyard!

As a fellow Thoreau mom and playground committee volunteer, I just want to take a moment to celebrate how far we’ve come and share how grateful I am for our village.

A few weeks ago, we heard from a parent whose first grader, Saxon, wanted to help raise money for the new playground. That conversation led us to discover that our online fundraising platform allows us to set up personalized fundraising pages—a great way for anyone who wants to help spread the word and ask for donations from their friends and family.

If you’re reading this, you’re part of something big—our community-wide effort to bring Thoreau’s Backyard playground to life!  With the upper playground being removed, this is our chance to build a special play space for our children now and for children years from now.

This is Benjamin Klein – a Concord dad with a fourth grader (Max) and first grader (Nathan) at Thoreau, and one more future Husky (Vivian). It has been truly amazing to see the community’s support for Thoreau’s Backyard, including all of the generous financial donations that have been coming in.

I’m excited to share the latest design update for Thoreau’s Backyard! I’ve been inspired by the incredible support and enthusiasm we’ve seen so far from our community. While there’s still work to do, we’re making great progress, and I’m delighted to show you where things stand.

I’m absolutely thrilled to share that thanks to so many of your generous contributions during our December campaign, we’ve raised 50% of our total goal for the new playground. We’re officially halfway there!

I’m also excited to share some updates to the project website! We’ve been working hard to make it a better resource for everyone following along, and I’d love for you to check it out—maybe even share it with your kids over the holidays.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday (and our beloved Turkey Trot tradition!), we’re feeling grateful for this incredible community and the spirit of generosity that makes it so special.

Building a playground like this is a team effort, and our timeline is tight. We hope to have all the funds by late spring 2025, so we can embark on a community-build project next fall, just in time for the next school year. Every gift will bring us closer to making Thoreau’s Backyard a reality.

If you've walked by the parking lot or existing gaga pit lately for pick up, you know it's time for a change! Imagine this space transformed into a vibrant, nature-inspired playground where our children can play, explore, and connect with one another in new ways.