As a Childcare Director, Deiona Clayton knows that age-appropriate equipment and well-defined outdoor learning centers are integral to nurturing children's curiosity, play patterns, and social bonding. She also knows that outdoor spaces can serve a much larger purpose than being a place where children can slide, swing, and climb. That purpose came into full view when Deiona decided to update the old, deteriorating playground equipment at Carver Daycare and Preschool in Evansville, Indiana.
In this article, Deiona recounts her experience and lessons learned while renovating the outdoor environments at Carver Daycare and Preschool.
What did the playground at Carver Daycare and Preschool look like before the renovation?
"We had our original playground equipment since opening the site in 1999," says Deiona. "The play structures were bright yellow and fuchsia pink. We had two slides, a bubble tunnel, and a climbing apparatus that no one knew what children should do on it."
Play structures without an apparent purpose can feel like a waste on the playground. However, for the children and teachers at Carver Daycare and Preschool, this climbing apparatus became a place where they would often sit and escape the hustle and bustle of the rambunctious play in the other playground spaces.
"It was around 2021 when we realized how old and in need of repairs our playground equipment was," says Deiona. "The repairs were going to be too much work, and we decided we would be better off getting new structures instead."
Later that year, a team demolished the play structures on the Carver Daycare and Preschool playground, leaving an empty lot for the children and teachers to use.
How did the children and teachers interact with an empty outdoor space?
"After the play structures were gone, the children would just run around in the space," Deiona says. "We thought that would be fine because children love running around. However, we noticed increased behavior problems when children were in the space."
Shortly after the demolition in 2021, Carver Daycare and Preschool received a grant from Early Learning Indiana. With this funding, they were able to add a water trough, outdoor easels, ramps, and a mud kitchen to their space. The idea was to purchase items that could go out in the space but wouldn't necessarily have to stay in place. According to Deiona, that plan did not work out so well.
"We put items away for the winter or at the end of the day," says Deiona. "However, remembering to bring the items back out was always a task." For a while, the Carver playground had nothing but a cart with balls, cones, and other outdoor play equipment the children could use. The teachers needed to get creative about what they did with the children during outdoor playtime.
"We thought that children could just be free and run around, using their imagination as they played," Deiona says. "We even brought back games like Red Rover and Red Light, Green Light, but playtime was not the same without play equipment."
What led you to add new equipment to your bare outdoor spaces?
"Even with a cart full of toys and teacher-led activities, I knew the children were missing the ability to climb, slide, swing, and all of the other things children do on outdoor play equipment," says Deiona. "I met with Aleisha Sheridan, CEO of Building Blocks, to get her help and advice on turning our playground into a space that meets the needs of the children."
Building Blocks is a non-profit organization that provides resources for early childhood directors and teachers so they can create high-quality, affordable programs to support the children and families in their community. Deiona realized during her conversations with Aleisha that her teachers needed outdoor spaces to expand on the learning happening in the classroom. Deiona also allowed the children to share what they missed on the playground.
“The children brought up that they missed having swings, slides, and something to climb on,” Deiona says. "If the children are asking for something specific, you want to give them what they want.”
How did you design the new space at Carver Daycare and Preschool?
"Aleisha scheduled a meeting with a Kaplan representative and me to discuss our needs for the outdoor space," Deiona says. "My rep took notes during the conversation, came over to view our outdoor space, took pictures, and created a playground design that fits every check box on our list."
The goal for the new space was to accommodate infants, toddlers, and preschool/school-aged children and meet the accessibility needs of each child at play. Some of Deiona's requests included outdoor flower easels, climbers, equipment that isn't too tall, and different learning areas where children can engage in dramatic play, music, literacy, and other activities.
What was the installation process like for the new playground equipment and surfacing?
"The first conversation with the Kaplan representative was in January 2024," says Deiona. "By February, we approved the final design and costs, and installation began a few months later."
The installation of all playground equipment and safety surfacing occurred in June 2024. Kaplan hired a third-party install team to assist with removing old playground surfacing and fencing and adding new items. Along with new playground equipment, Carver Daycare and Preschool also added sun shades, fencing, pour-in-place rubber mulch, and loose wood mulch to their outdoor spaces.
"It was truly a community effort to bring the playground to life," says Deiona. "Our maintenance staff and the local fire department came to the rescue to help spread mulch and prepare the playground spaces for use."
What was the reaction the first time children, teachers, and families saw the space?
"The children and teachers were able to see the entire installation process happen," says Deiona. "They loved watching the trucks hard at work. Everyone was so excited to get out in the space finally. It felt like every day before it was ready, a child or teacher would ask when they could go out and use the playground."
One of the most rewarding parts of any playground renovation is the laughter, excitement, and pure joy the children display as they run around and learn what to do in the new space. The Kaplan representative working with Deiona will also host a training with the staff of Carver Daycare and Preschool at a later date to share with them how to use the equipment and what they can do with children in the new space.
How are you enjoying the new outdoor environment at Carver Daycare and Preschool?
"Now, the teachers use the outdoor space anytime they feel it is necessary," says Deiona. "The space can be anything the teachers need it to be. For instance, the pre-k classes use the space for a garden, and one classroom uses the picnic table for lunch on nice days."
The updated playground space allows wheelchairs and other mobility devices to navigate and access the play equipment. The Carver Daycare and Preschool outdoor environments are truly a place for all to enjoy.
Find inspiration for your own outdoor transformations.
As you can see, how you design and set up your outdoor environments greatly impacts how children and teachers use the space. Deiona advises anyone planning to remodel or update their outdoor environments: "Meet and discuss things with a representative because they are the experts. They will help you make informed design choices and act as the go-between for you and the contractors, so that's one less thing you need to be involved in."
If you are in the process of updating your playground equipment and outdoor learning environments, Kaplan is here to make the process as stress-free as possible for you. Read this article to learn more about our playground installation process and what you can expect when working with Kaplan. 
