Universal Playground Improvements

August 2025

Welcome to the August Construction Update for the Universal Playgrounds projects! 

We are extremely excited to report that the summer 2025 Bond construction projects are now substantially complete.  While there are a few final items being addressed during the month of August, the bulk of the work is now completed and the playgrounds are ready for students. Depending on the specific need of each school, you will notice new playground equipment, new ADA accessible equipment and new solid surfacing in select areas. Additional landscaping was completed as well where necessary.  

Overall, the playground sites look amazing, and we are thrilled about the work that has been completed. As always, this and other facility improvements around BVSD could not be possible without the support and generosity of the entire BVSD community, and we sincerely thank you for your support. Have a great start to the 2025-26 school year!

Read more about the August project update here

July 2025

Welcome to the July Construction Update for the Universal Access Playgrounds projects! We have passed the halfway point for summer construction. Projects at Coal Creek and Fireside are complete and the playgrounds at the other schools are well on their way to being ready for students in August. Here’s an overview of the work planned for this month:

• Monarch PK-8: New shade structure installed and new poured in place surfacing to be completed by early August
• Coal Creek: Installation of new playground structure and surfacing completed
• Fireside: Installation of new playground structure and surfacing completed
• Aspen Creek PK-8: New surface and reinstall of swing to be completed by end of July
• Eldorado PK-8: New surfacing and shade structure installation to be completed by the end of July

We look forward to seeing students enjoying all these new playgrounds soon! As always, we thank you for both your support in making this project possible as well as your patience with construction. We hope you continue to have a wonderful summer break! 

Read more about the July project update here

June 2025

Welcome to the June Construction Update for the Universal Access Playgrounds projects. We want to congratulate you and your student(s) on another successful year and hope that this message finds your summer off to a great start!  Since Memorial Day weekend, activity around the various school playgrounds has ramped up considerably in some places, and will be doing so soon in others. Where activity has begun, construction fencing is in place at the school site, so for the safety of the workers and community members alike, we ask that you comply with all fencing and signage while these playground improvements take place. Most of the projects are approximately 5-6 weeks in duration, so we anticipate your school’s playground to be back open this summer! Highlights of work planned for June & early July are detailed below:

• Complete mobilization and site fencing
• Demo of existing surfaces, some sidewalk/edging, in selected areas of the playgrounds 
• Stockpile wood chips/pea gravel to be used on other parts of the playground or removed from the site
• Survey and site work prep
• Complete poured-in-place surfacing in selected areas and select schools
• Place and repour concrete sidewalks/edging in selected areas
• Begin installation of any new pieces of playground equipment where indicated
• Complete final landscaping details along with all punch list items

Read more about the June project update here

May 2025

We hope this message finds you and your student(s) well as summer begins! The BVSD Bond Department is excited to tell you about the kick-off to construction of the Universal Playground Project happening this summer at your school! The playground improvements are the result of support from the entire BVSD community through passage of the 2022 BVSD Bond Referendum.  

The projects will begin immediately after Memorial Day weekend and will be substantially complete by early August. Highlights of the projects include:

• ADA improvements in select playground areas at each school site
• Resurfacing and limited equipment replacement in select areas 
• Specific structures will be replaced and/or removed due to damage, age, and accessibility issues

These playground improvements will feature play structures with wider ramps, ground level elements, play panels/playhouses, and poured-in-place pathways to equipment to create multiple ways for students to play and have fun together. BVSD will invest $3.2 million in playground renovations at several campuses this summer. More information about these projects can be found here on the BVSD website.

Student and community safety is our top priority at your school and in the Boulder Valley School District. While work on these projects is slated for the summer months only when school is not in session, we realize that the playgrounds are frequently used by the community during this time.  

Read more about the May project update here

April 2025

The Contractors are gearing up to start work on the playground improvements in our Critical Needs Plan. Construction for the Phase 2 projects will begin after the students leave in May for summer break.

March 2025

Universal Access Playgrounds construction start postcards were sent to neighbors this month. 

January 2025

Design Concepts and FCI Constructors have been selected for the Phase 2 Universal Accessible Playgrounds projects.  Phase 2 projects include Aspen Creek PK8, Coal Creek Elementary School, Eldorado PK8, Fireside Elementary School, Monarch PK8 and Ryan Elementary School.  Construction will begin after the students leave for summer break.

November 2024

Project postcard for the Phase 2 Universal Playground projects were sent to neighbors this month.

September 2024

Phase 2 of the UA Playgrounds project will begin this fall and includes Aspen Creek, Coal Creek, Eldorado PK8, Fireside, Monarch PK8, and Ryan Elementary schools. We anticipate construction for these schools will begin next spring/summer 2025.

August 2024

Welcome to the August Construction Update for the Universally Accessible Playgrounds projects. These summer projects are either completed or in the final stages of completion.  We anticipate all the playgrounds will be ready for students on the first day of school!

Although these projects are small in scope, the improvements will make a world of difference for many BVSD students. We are extremely excited about the projects and can’t wait to see students enjoying the new playgrounds!

Again, we are extremely grateful for your patience and understanding as these playground spaces were taken off-line during the summer months. We hope you had a wonderful summer and look forward to the beginning of the 2024-25 school year!

Read more about the August project update here

July 2024

Welcome to the July Construction Update for the Universal Access Playgrounds projects. At this point, all of the projects have begun in earnest and the initial phase of each project has been completed.  Highlights of work planned for July are detailed below:

Kohl

• Complete installation of drains & sub-slabs for poured-in-place surface

• Installation of poured-in-place (rubberized) surface and synthetic turf

• Complete installation of playground equipment

• Reinstall wood chip surface in select areas

Louisville

• Install steppers and logs landscaping

• Complete sub-slabs for poured-in-place (rubberized) surface

• Installation of poured-in-place surface & cure time

Eisenhower

• Complete installation of drains & sub-slabs for poured-in-place (rubberized) surface

• Cure time for sub-slab

• Install playground equipment

Nederland

• Install playground equipment and benches

• Patch rubber tiles

• Identification of final tasks and inspections

Foothill

• Complete installation of drains & sub-slabs for poured-in-place (rubberized) surface

• Installation of poured-in-place surface & cure time

• Install fencing and crusher fine surface in select areas

We hope you are as excited as we are for the improvements at these playgrounds which will be open for kids by the start of school. As always, we appreciate your patience and support for these projects and could not be more grateful to the voters for providing BVSD the funds to make this all possible!

June 2024

Welcome to the June Construction Update for the Universal Access Playgrounds projects. We want to congratulate you and your student(s) on another successful year and hope that this message finds your summer off to a great start!  Since Memorial Day weekend, activity around the various school playgrounds has ramped up considerably in some places, and will be doing so soon in others. Where activity has begun, construction fencing is in place at the school site, so for the safety of the workers and community members alike, we ask that you comply with all fencing and signage while these playground improvements take place. Most of the projects are not long in duration, usually 2-5 weeks, so we anticipate your school’s playground to be back open not long after ground has been broken! Highlights of work planned for June & early July are detailed below:

• Complete mobilization and site fencing
• Demo of existing surfaces, some sidewalk/edging, in selected areas of the playgrounds 
• Stockpile wood chips/pea gravel to be used on other parts of the playground
• Survey and site work prep
• Install perforated drain pipes in selected areas
• Place and repour concrete sidewalks/edging in selected areas
• Begin installation of any new pieces of playground equipment where indicated

We are excited for the changes coming to the playgrounds at your school this summer. As always, we appreciate your patience and support for this project and could not be more grateful to the voters for providing BVSD the funds to make this all possible!

April 2024

The project team will work with the Design Advisory Team on the Phase 2 group of schools. The second group of schools includes: Aspen Creek PK8, Coal Creek Elementary School, Eldorado PK8, Fireside Elementary School, Monarch PK8, and Ryan Elementary School. Playground improvement work for the Phase 2 schools is scheduled for summer 2025.

February 2024

The Board approved the GMP Contract in January for our first group of playground improvement projects. Improvements in the summer of 2024 will be made at the following five locations: Eisenhower Elementary School, Foothills Elementary School, Kohl Elementary School, Louisville Elementary School and Nederland Elementary School. Construction is scheduled to commence on May 28, 2024 with a substantial completion date of August 2, 2024.

November 2023

• DD Drawings Received

  • Eisenhower / Foothill / Kohl / Louisville / Nederland 

  • All 16 playgrounds finished being assessed

  • CD’s anticipated early February
     

• W.E. O'neil selected as CM/GC

  • Playground Equipment bid package anticipated in December 
     

• Timeline

  • Projected to complete construction on 4-5 playgrounds per summer.

September 2023

Design Concepts has been contracted to lead the design work for the project. Design Advisory Team meetings will begin this month.