Schools

Parkview's inclusive playground opens for play

Celebrating the community that made an accessible playground possible

Naomi Krueger

08 Sep 2026 — 5 min read

Cutting the ribbon moments before a crowd of students rushed onto the new playground. Pictured left to right: Superintendent Jenny Loeck, Principal Nathaniel Gibbs, Carolyn Weatherhead, Valerie Malzer, Emily Dahl, student Chloe S., student Maddie S., Associate Principal Tonya Weaver, Jay the Jaguar, and former Principal Kristen Smith Olson. | credit: Naomi Krueger/The Roseville Reader

As students at Parkview Center School come back for a new year of school, they get to enjoy a brand new accessible playground.

This playground is two years in the making, thanks to a motivated group of parents, students, school staff, and community partners who organized and fundraised to make it possible.

"This playground is a testament to what can happen when a community comes together," Roseville Area Schools Superintendent Jenny Loeck said.

Roughly two years ago, Parkview parents Emily Dahl and Kristin Dillon started to dream about a new school playground where children of all abilities could play together.

Twenty-one percent of the students at Parkview have identified disabilities, including Dahl and Dillon's daughters. At Parkview there are 43 students with physical or mobility impairments impacting play, based on last year's student body. When it was time to replace the old playground, Dahl and Dillon were determined to make sure the new play structure would be accessible to everybody.

Two Parkview students Ellie Dillon (in the yellow) and Matilda Thompson (in white), greet each other surrounded by family and school staff. | *credit: Naomi Krueger/The Roseville Reader*

The cost of the playground was $520,000, fully funded through individual donations, local and national grants, business donors, and community organizations and foundations. Students also helped through a coin drive, lemonade stands, selling friendship bracelets, and other fundraisers.

The school district pays for the maintenance of existing playgrounds, but playground replacements are the responsibility of individual school communities. The City of Roseville also doesn’t pay for or maintain school playgrounds. So any time a school needs a new playground, it’s up to the school community to fundraise to make it happen.

Parkview Play Ambassadors

Chloe S. (left) and Maddie W. (right) were recognized for their advocacy and fundraising efforts for Parkview's Inclusive Playground. | *credit: Naomi Krueger/The Roseville Reader*

"All kids should get to play," said Parkview eighth grader Maddie W.

According to Carolyn Weatherhead, a Parkview parent and the Director of Community Engagement at Parkview, Maddie and her friend Chloe S. became Parkview's first Play Ambassadors in January 2025 when they came before district leaders to share why inclusive play matters. Maddie and Chloe led the way for student advocacy for inclusive play and fundraising for the new playground.

"Maddie W. also turned her commitment to inclusive play into action by making and selling friendship bracelets. She used the proceeds to fund two permanent Buddy Benches, now part of Parkview’s inclusive playground, where students and community members can sit, rest, or find a friend," said Weatherhead.

Playground Ribbon Cutting Celebration

On August 26, an estimated 400 people gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the new playground. The school community was out in full force, as well as the Roseville Area School Board, some Roseville City leaders, business owners, and representatives from community organizations.

Dahl, who spearheaded the Inclusive Playground Committee, said it feels, "incredible" to see how the community came together to support their students. "I couldn't be more grateful," Dahl said.

The bright sunshine amplified the joy streaming forth from the children and adults enjoying the playground, accompanied by a student band playing covers of popular songs. The band, Good Trouble, kicked things off with Pink Pony Club by Chapelle Roan, led by lead singer Maddie W.

The student band Good Trouble performed covers of popular songs at the playground grand opening celebration. | *credit: Naomi Krueger/The Roseville Reader*

"The grand opening truly felt like a party—a celebration of what we accomplished together," said Weatherhead,

As children of all abilities moved around and up and down the playground, the adults enjoyed watching them play.

"Kids are using the playground right now who wouldn't have been able to before, right in this moment," Superintendent Loeck said. "This is about human dignity."

Leo Kunz and his dad Tim Kunz are pictured at left. | *credit: Naomi Krueger/The Roseville Reader*

Sixth grader Leo Kunz, who uses a wheelchair, said the playground was "awesome" and had "cool colors." He enjoyed going down the slide and he agreed with his dad that it was easier now to get around on the new soft surface.

Leo enjoys playing adaptive sports. It's been hard to find that locally, so they travel across the Twin Cities to find opportunities, according to his dad Tim Kunz. They were grateful that the school now had a playground that was accessible.

"At a time when so much can divide us, I love that this project brought people together around something we can all believe in: every child deserves a place to play and belong," said Weatherhead.

The playground is on school property, but anyone in the community can enjoy using it outside of school hours.