This fall, Ferndale School District celebrated the opening of the Mountain View Learning Center playground, the first fully accessible inclusive preschool playground in the City of Ferndale. The milestone was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 23.

The creation of this inclusive space was made possible through a Healthy Children’s Capital Grant, the generous support of the Whatcom Community Foundation, and longtime Ferndale residents Don and Candace Buethorn of Cascade Dafo.

“Often called the second classroom, this playground provides so much more than play,” said Superintendent Kristi Dominguez. “It creates opportunities for children to build relationships, strengthen mobility skills, foster friendships, and enjoy equal access to play. It also offers safe risk-taking opportunities that encourage exploration, confidence, and growth.”

Planning for the playground began in September 2024, when a 21-member advisory taskforce including staff, community members, parents, and a student, who all came together to define the vision for the new playground.

“This inclusive playground represents our belief that every child deserves to feel a sense of belonging and joy,” Dominguez added. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our partners and the dedication of our taskforce, we now have a space where all students can play, learn, and grow together.”

The taskforce considered key elements such as accessibility, zones for varied play, opportunities for both individual and cooperative play, and universal design principles.

Trina Hall, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning and a member of the taskforce, emphasized the importance of play for early learners:

“For our youngest learners, play is their work, and this is their space to grow and connect with one another. It is specifically designed for them to interact inclusively,” Hall said. “Especially for children with mobility challenges, this playground says: you are welcome, you are valued, and you belong.”

What makes this project especially remarkable is that it came at no cost to local residents. Typically, school construction projects require a capital levy, which is a commitment of local funding over the course of years. In this case, grants and generous donations made the playground a reality without that burden.

Grant Writer and Director of the Ferndale Schools Foundation Tracy Diehl also served on the advisory taskforce and as Trina Hall put it, shepherded the project every step of the way.

Diehl was an integral player who guided the collaboration of all involved, including the construction phase with the Gametime playground team who worked on the site daily through the Summer.

"This inclusive playground is a milestone for Ferndale. As the first fully accessible play space in our community, it is a gift to all children and families, not just those at Mountain View,” Diehl said.

The new playground features equipment and design elements that provide safe, accessible, and engaging play opportunities for students of all abilities. The Inclusive Whirl for example, has a zero-entry design for ease of use for everyone and is at ground level for access without transfer, and there is room for multiple people to play together. In addition to playground classics, slides and swings, other fun features include an inclusive SeeSaw, novelty mushrooms and logs to balance and step across on.

The community is welcome to visit and enjoy the playground during non-school hours.