PINEHURST — After years of playing on cracked asphalt and aging woodchips, students at Pinehurst Elementary School finally have a playground built for fun and safety.
Crews recently completed a monthslong overhaul of the school’s sprawling play area, replacing the outdated surface with a modern, impact-cushioning synthetic turf. The renovation also included some new play equipment, proper drainage and a fresh foundation, transforming the space into a vibrant hub for recess and recreation.
The project was funded by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, with support from the Pinehurst PTA. Local companies Stewart Contracting and Alta Science and Engineering handled the construction.
While the latest work marks a major milestone, it’s part of a much longer journey. For more than 20 years, the DEQ has conducted smaller remediation efforts across the PES campus. But much of the old playground surface had remained untouched until now.
To make the playground safe, work crews removed up to 12 inches of contaminated soil and replaced it with clean material. This included the removal of deteriorating concrete barriers and existing play surface coverings.
“No records were found for the original placement of the existing asphalt or concrete barriers,” said DEQ Project Manager Keri St. John. “It is assumed they existed prior to any remedial action and were left in place during remedial activities. These areas were cracking and breaking and did not have adequate flow for stormwater.”
Once the old materials were removed, crews installed curbing and upgraded the area to support proper drainage, laying the groundwork for the new surface.
The new playground wasn’t quite ready when students returned to school Sept. 2, but according to Pinehurst Elemetary Principal Leah White, that didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits.
“The new playground is amazing, and the students and staff love it,” White said. “My favorite moment was watching the students run out onto the new playground for the first time. Many of them were rolling around and lying on the turf.”
White added that teachers and staff have been encouraging students to take care of the new space.
“I hope the Pinehurst community is as proud of it as we are and will help to make sure it is taken care of,” she said.