Our Hero's

Today we met with our local Lowe's to give them information about the playground build. They were so enthused about the project! Little did we know that every year each local store identifies a community improvement project that will make a difference where they live. They decided immediately decided to make the new Lowell Playground their "Heroes" project for 2009. From what we understand, every employee will volunteer during the build! What an amazing way to support their community! Thanks Lowe's from every kid, neighbor and parent!

Thanks for Coming!

Today we held a a silent auction as a fundraiser for the Lowell Playground and Grass Field. We are amazed at the supportive parents - both their donations and time - for the auction. Thanks! It's so meaningful to be part of an active, involved community.

We also appreciate the community support the project received the form of donations to the auction. 

Everyone had so much fun - the kids played bingo and bought snacks at the "snack bar" and parents picked up everything from pizza and movie coupons to framed prints by local artist Thomas Wood.

The auction raised a little over $5,000. The Lowell Playground wouldn't happen without your support. Thank you.

Support Playground T's

The kids had lots of fun at Design Day Celebration hula hooping to the band Lindsey Street and eating ice cream. Some of them ended up with a new playground t-shirt too.

Kids Rally for Playground

There were so many great ideas for Lowell's new playground we had to put them all up for everyone to see. 

Thanks kids! We couldn't do this without you!

Design Presentation

Design Day Success!!! Today Dennis Wille, Leathers and Associates, interviewed the kids about their playground ideas and we held a CELEBRATION at the school to unveil the plan. He spent all afternoon working on a playground design based on the kids suggestions and the concepts originated by previous members of the playground committee.

He presented the new playground in a drawing directly to the kids!

Dennis talks to parents at the Design Day Celebration about playground specifics.

All kids are heard on Design Day

Dennis Wille gave every student a chance to tell him what they wanted at the new playground. Suggestions such as a water slide and refrigerator didn't make the final design, but he made sure he heard every suggestion.

Design Day at Happy Valley

To prepare for Dennis Wille's visit, the Lowell Playground Committee - with the fabulous cooperation of all the Happy Valley teachers - asked the Happy Valley/Lowell students to draw their idea of the ultimate playground.

This year most Lowell students are attending Happy Valley Elementary while Lowell Elementary is closed and undergoing seismic retrofitting during the 2008-2009 school year.

Site Survey with Ron Cowan

The Lowell Playground site survey included Leathers and Associates Designer Dennis Wille, Bellingham School District Superintendent Ron Cowan, Capital Project Manage Manual Babian and Lowell Playground Coordinator Rachel Budelsky. Designer Dennis Wille wanted to measure and see the sight in person before meeting with the Happy Valley and Lowell Students later that day for their input into the design of the playground.

Birch Equipment Loves Lowell

Birch Equipment is saving the day! They are excited to be part of our project and have donated the use of their large equipment for the grass field excavation. Thanks to Sarah Rothenbuhler, owner of Birch Equipment, who is also a Lowell Alumni and neighbor to the school, we will get this project done! Thanks Sarah for making a better place for students and the whole neighborhood to play.

Hard Working Girls

These five motivated girls hand made magic wands, potholders, bracelets and many more items to sell at the Annual Bellingham Library Craft Fair to raise money for the playground. They raised $51.92 in August 2007.

North Asphalt Field - Our Dream is to Turn it GREEN

This is the how the north asphalt field appears now. There is only a small grass strip along the west side of this area that was put in one year ago for the kids to play on during recess. This entire asphalt field will be replaced with grass so the kids can play soccer at recess and for the community to use as a resource.

Outdated Play Equipment

This is how the upper playground at Lowell looks today. The lincoln log structure is 30 years old and the slide is held together with duct tape. The kids love the slide- three across is the best - and everyone will be sad to see it go.

This is the Million Smiles Playground in Lynden. Members of the playground committee toured this playground with Gary Vis, Lynden Chamber of Commerce, who headed up this project for the City of Lynden. This playground was built by volunteers with the help of Leathers & Associates. We wanted to make sure Leathers could help us achieve our goal of creating a community project. Gary Vis said he would do it again in a minute, "It was an amazing community experience."

They did it! The kids raised over $5,000 themselves! Lowell's principal, Mrs. Tally, wore a chicken suit to school all day. Mrs. Tally is loyal to her promises and dedicated to the new grass field and every kid got a shot at her in the dunk tank too for raising the money.

The fundraising kickoff for Lowell's grass field begins! Students are bringing in their change and are hoping to raise over $5,000 to see their principal, Mrs. Tally, go in the dunk tank and wear a chicken suit.