Early on an October morning, before the children began to arrive for school, a small crowd gathered for the unveiling of the refurbished play yard at Cloud Preschool in La Crescenta. Jane Marriott (above), a senior at Crescenta Valley High School, cut the ribbon and introduced a 9-foot by 16-foot custom sandbox with wooden bench seating, two vibrant and interactive butterfly murals, and a newly created tricycle parking area. Marriott led the project, recruited volunteers and gathered support and donations from local businesses all as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project to make a difference in her community.

“I love children!” said Marriott. “One of the little boys I babysit for attends Cloud – and it’s right next to my high school. So when I first visited the campus, I knew I wanted to make something there that would create a lasting new playspace for these happy kids and energize their hard-working teachers, too.”

Glendale Unified School District officials, teachers, parents, children, and volunteers gathered to witness the ribbon cutting and inaugural sand play. The children needed no encouragement to jump in and start enjoying the new play area that surrounds a sycamore tree.

Marriott engaged many volunteers to build the sandbox, including fellow students at CVHS and their families. In all, 43 volunteers spent 185 hours designing and painting the colorful murals, digging holes for cement supports, mixing concrete, sawing, sanding, staining and hauling bags of sand. Marriott raised the money for the project by selling Girl Scout cookies for the past eight years. In addition, she recruited support from local businesses.

Ganahl Lumber generously donated the wood for the bench seating surrounding the sandbox. DIY Center donated the essential cement and sand. Catalina Paints donated 15 colors of paint for the butterflies. In addition, several community members made significant contributions of money and materials.

“I couldn’t believe how generous people are. They gave up their Saturdays, in the drizzle, to come and work, to bring food, and to be involved,” said Marriott. “This project showed me how much people care and support one another here. I really feel like we’ve made a difference. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the children will enjoy this play area for years to come. I’m so grateful!”

Andra Clarke, assistant to the principal at Cloud, supervised the Saturday work sessions. “The children will enjoy this area so much – and the sandbox is an ideal learning space to help the kids with communication and sensory challenges, develop their social and language skills and improve cognitive motor function,” Clarke said.

Eighty students attend Cloud Preschool, which serves both special needs and general education students in the Glendale Unified School District. Marriott said she hopes to one day work in a school like Cloud as a pediatric speech pathologist. After graduating from CVHS in college and graduate school she plans to study communication disorders.

Contributed by Lisa MARRIOTT