Sequim School District families, staff and friends celebrated two times the fun on Aug. 16 with new playground installations at Greywolf and Helen Haller elementary schools.

Seventh-grader Ocean Mounts, a former Greywolf student, and fourth-grader Julian Mendoza at Helen Haller cut ribbons to commemorate the new structures.

Greywolf principal Jennifer Lopez commended Mounts, now a Sequim Middle School student, to families and staff members at the ceremony for his suggestion to build a new playground a few years ago and his persistence asking about it that helped prompt the district and Parent Teacher Association to act.

Mounts said he’s grateful that other children — including his his second grade brother Ollie — get to play on a new structure he had hoped for.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Greywolf Elementary hosts a new climbing structure, Quantis M2, and two Friendship Swings (all ability and age, two-seat swings) plus a We-Swing (a four-seat swing for all ages and abilities).

The school’s new structure, Quantis M2, is an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant inclusive climbing, netted structure with a slide that “offers accessible pathways, unexpected climbing opportunities, and a range of sensory and physical inputs from fixed to bouncy, smooth to rough and high to low,” according to the manufacturer.

Two Friendship Swings — a multi-user playground swing for all-ages and abilities — and a We-Saw — a four-seat see-saw also for all ages and abilities — were installed, too. Additional ADA-accessible swings are on order as well.

“I love it,” Lopez said of the new playground equipment. “It’s really important for kids to be outside and socializing.”

Lopez, also a former Greywolf student, said “the playground has never been better.”

At Helen Haller Elementary, Mendoza was chosen to cut the ribbon because of his excitement after he learned the structure was to be installed. He said he was honored to be picked.

Nine-year-old Julian Mendoza cuts the ribbon on Helen Haller Elementary’s new playground structure, the Crab Trap, on Aug. 16. It’s the first new play equipment at the school in nearly two decades.

Principal Rebecca Stanton said Mendoza was the first to learn about it from her when she showed him a picture of the playground.

“I’m super excited for students,” Stanton said. “(The structure) means a lot more variety to be active and have fun.”

The structure, the Crab Trap with SlideWinder2, is also an ADA-compliant, inclusive netted playground structure where children can “decide how to navigate from the outside to the inside and back again (and) no matter how they climb or crawl through the challenges, the open-ended play experience will keep them coming back for more,” according to the manufacturer.

Both school playgrounds now feature anti-splinter wood chips.

The Crab Trap is the first playground equipment to be installed at the school in nearly two decades, Stanton said.

She said district staffers’ conversations led to the playground installation at Helen Haller, and both school structures were completed within about a week of each other.

Julian Mendoza, a fourth-grader at Helen Haller Elementary, said he was honored to cut the ribbon for the school’s new playground. He was the first to learn of the structure after principal Rebecca Stanton showed him a picture of it.

Supply chain issues delayed installation through the school year, she said, which made Mendoza more eager.

Sequim schools superintendent Regan Nickels said costs for the two schools’ playground equipment and installation was about $290,000 using district and grant funds.

Funds from schools’ fundraisers also contributed to the projects, staff and Sequim Elementary PTA leaders said.

Greywolf Elementary PTA, now part of Sequim Elementary PTA, held a Jog-a-Thon in 2022 with more than $25,000 going towards the school’s playground.

Landscape Structures manufactured the equipment and the school district worked with the PlayCreations company of Burien to facilitate certified commercial installation, Nickels said.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Ocean Mounts cuts the ribbon for Greywolf Elementary’s Quantis M2 playground equipment on Aug. 16. He asked about the school getting a new playground a few years ago, which served as inspiration for school and PTA leaders, said principal Jennifer Lopez.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Greywolf Elementary’s Quantis M2 playground equipment features a slide and multiple climbing options for children.

Greywolf Elementary now hosts a We-Swing, a four-seat swing for all ages and abilities.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Helen Haller Elementary’s Crab Trap playground equipment features several climbing and exploration opportunities for children.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Helen Haller Elementary’s Crab Trap playground equipment features several climbing and exploration opportunities for children.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Helen Haller Elementary principal Rebecca Stanton offers fourth grader Julian Mendoza a piece of the ribbon he cut to commemorate the installation of the school’s new playground equipment the Crab Trap.