Garland ISD students are leaving their mark on the City of Rowlett in a big way. District elementaries were recently enlisted to help redesign the famed Kids Kingdom playground.
Built by volunteers in 1998, Kids Kingdom was not only a child’s playtime wonderland, but a tangible symbol of community. In 2013, an inspection revealed that the playground contained rotting wood and chromated copper arsenic, causing its demolition.
Now, Rowlett is working on rebuilding Kids Kingdom, involving community members in the process—just like it did 16 years ago.
Upon returning from winter break, the city asked children from all nine Rowlett elementary campuses for their creative input. Students were given the chance to draw and submit a playground design, which will help guide a custom model for the new and improved Kids Kingdom.
“We wanted to allow them an opportunity to put their design ideas on paper, since they will be ones using the playground,” said Rowlett Parks Division Manager Keith Flournoy. “A lot of the design features are consistent, like swings or a slide. But there are some components that kids will ask for, like a train, barn, boat or helicopter, and the design firm is able to work with manufacturers to get those type of things made. When the playground is completed, it is truly a one-of-a-kind playground that is unique to our community and has been inspired by our kids.”
Imaginative layouts were submitted Monday, Jan. 12. Designers will study the drawings and will visit all schools Friday, Jan. 16, to discuss the blueprints.
“We will get the kids charged up,” Flournoy said. “I am excited and I hope we get a lot of support. We are asking the kids to bring their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and everybody in their family out to be part of this project. We are still in the process of raising funds and gathering volunteers. It is going to take the community to get this done.”
But now that the design phase is complete, a celebratory bash is set to excite residents of the forthcoming attraction.