Play Placemaking: Rutland County Head Start (RCHS) plans playground expansion

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2025

Media Contact: Donna Barrow, Ed.D., 503-756-7006, dbarrow@rmhsccn.org

Rutland, Vt. - Rutland County Head Start (RCHS), a program of Community Care Network (CCN), today announced plans for an exciting new playground expansion project at its Meadow Street school location. The new playground will better meet the developmental needs of its students and benefit Rutland County children and families for years to come.

“The project, made possible through Office of Head Start funding, will transform our play area into an exciting, fun and safer playground for our student community,” said Donna Barrow, Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start Director.

Aimed at further improving RCHS’ facilities and the health and safety of its students, the project quickly gained momentum after a new funding opportunity from the Office of Head Start (OHS) was identified in 2024 by Barrow and RCHS Fiscal Coordinator Jen Drew, and coordination support was secured from CCN Facilities Director, Randy Crossman, and Senior Maintenance Technician, Shawn Moore.

“Over the past few years, the interior of our flagship school location on Meadow Street was greatly improved to better suit our early childhood classes,” added Barrow. “Thanks to grants and community support, we were able to add several new classrooms and murals in 2023 and 2024. However, our outdoor play space remained in need of a serious upgrade.”

After a facility walk-through to assess how the opportunity could best meet existing needs, the agency’s facilities team advised Barrow to apply for the funds to rebuild and enhance the playground.

The team worked together to gather input and develop a compelling proposal and budget for the project to be submitted to OHS. Several contractors submitted bids and playground designs with Pettinelli & Associates of Williston ultimately selected to complete the project.

“While we had envisioned a natural playground, they recognized that more durable equipment and design was required for Vermont weather,” said Barrow. “Justin Mansfield with Pettinelli & Associates helped combine the vision with functionality.”

Once an initial design was developed, the proposal was approved by the RCHS policy council and board of directors and submitted to the Office of Head Start.

“In May, RCHS and CCN were thrilled to receive notification that the award was granted,” said Dick Courcelle, Chief Executive Officer of Community Care Network. “The Office of Head Start approved this one-time funding because of the importance of outdoor play spaces to students’ health, safety and development.”

Once the grant money was received, Missy Burke, RCHS Education Manager, worked with Pettinelli & Associates to further fine-tune designs for the new playground.

“Missy’s expertise in early childhood development and Vermont licensing allowed her and Justin to create spaces that will work for all of our students,” said Barrow. “The ground cover, colors, and equipment capture the feel of the natural environment but also ensure durability through snow, rain, and harsh weather.”

RCHS Health Manager, Angela Goepel, also reviewed the plans to ensure that the project would meet all safety standards for outdoor spaces for young children.

“The first step when designing an environment for children is to immerse yourself in their shoes,” said Burke. “You have to select the right materials and equipment for children from infant to preschoolers with different developmental needs. This playground design has spaces for all our children to enjoy, to entice their senses and build their motor skills. I can’t wait for them to be able to enjoy the movement and experiences that will be waiting for them.”

Construction planning and approvals have begun for the project, equipment has been ordered, and the groundbreaking is anticipated to take place in mid-September. Project construction is expected to take about two weeks, and a community Grand Opening celebration is tentatively planned for October.

“We are thankful for the additional funding and for the many community partnerships that have allowed us to bring this new playground rebuild to fruition,” added Courcelle. “This project will benefit local children for many years to come."

-30-

About Rutland County Head Start: Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start are funded by the Office of Head Start (OHS) and administered locally by Rutland Community Programs as part of Community Care Network (CCN). OHS administers grant funding oversight to about 1,700 such agencies. Since 1965, Head Start programs have reached 40 million children and families. Rutland County Head Start provides comprehensive services for pregnant women, children from birth to age five, and their families throughout Rutland County, Vermont. It is dedicated to supporting the development of the child within the family, and the development of the family within the community. Learn more at RutlandCountyHeadStart.org.

About Community Care Network: CCN is comprised of Rutland Mental Health Services and Rutland Community Programs. The programs of Community Care Network serve more than 3,000 people each year throughout Rutland County across the areas of behavioral health, developmental disabilities, substance use recovery, senior and volunteer, and early childhood education services. CCN is focused on enhancing the health and well-being of those it serves through responsive, innovative and collaborative services that offer support across the lifespan. Learn more at www.rmhsccn.org.