A Major Milestone
Dear Thoreau’s Backyard Community,
We are absolutely thrilled to share exciting news with you:
On Wednesday, April 30th, Thoreau’s Backyard playground project was officially approved by the Concord Public School Committee! This means we are moving into the next exciting phase of this project, so we can prepare to build a new playground in just a few short months.
Thanks to the unwavering support of our amazing community, we are also proud to announce that we have reached our fundraising goal of $610,000! This is a tremendous milestone—and it wouldn’t have been possible without every generous donor, advocate, and volunteer who believed in the vision of a nature-inspired and engaging play space for the children of Thoreau Elementary and the broader Concord community.
This is a community-built project in the truest sense of the word. Your support has helped us move forward with confidence, knowing that we are building something truly special that will benefit generations of children to come.
We’re Still Accepting Donations — Here’s Why:
While we’ve reached our initial goal, further donations are still incredibly valuable! We are still welcoming donations to support:
Create more places to gather and play — e.g. Enhance the playhouses, add shade structures and low stone walls for seating.
Enrich the living landscape — e.g. Upgrade plantings with more mature shade trees and a wider variety of native shrubs and grasses.
Protect the playground’s future — Set aside funds for ongoing care and unexpected fixes, so the space stays safe, clean, and welcoming for years to come.
Every extra dollar will help us make this playground the best it can be.
If you’d like to continue supporting or sharing with others who may want to get involved, donations can still be made here.
Thank you for believing in this project and helping it become a reality. We can’t wait to celebrate with you as we break ground and bring Thoreau’s Backyard to life.
With deepest gratitude,
Thoreau Playground Committee
Mitch Brooks, Chair (1st grade, William)
Justin Sparks, Principal
Cristina Aspuru Viciana (2nd Grade, Anabel)
Benjamin Klein (4th Grade, Max; 1st Grade, Nathan)
Michael LeFante (3rd Grade, Gabriel; K, Mila)
Adrienne Query-Fiss (5th Grade, Zaik; 4th Grade, Daniel)
Erin Sahacic (4th Grade, Vanessa)
Matt Strauchon (1st Grade, John)
Carrie Rankin, School Committee Rep (5th Grade, Cooper; 3rd Grade, Leah; K, Micaela)
Courtney Ward (2nd grade, Zoe)