Kendall celebrates one-of-a-kind playground at elementary school

Site includes climbing tower, a zipline, We-Go-Round, We-Saws, swings, climbing mounds, chill spinners and shaded seating areas

Photos and information courtesy of Kendall Central School

KENDALL – It was a special time on Wednesday evening at the Kendall Elementary School when the community celebrated the opening of a new school playground.

This is Kendall’s first community-accessible playground, a one-of-a-kind facility in the Northeast that will serve both students and families for years to come.

This playground is designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. The playground includes ground-level entry points, durable turf surfacing, and equipment designed to accommodate children with limited mobility.

“Our early vision was to ensure that our students and residents had a space to come and spend time with family and friends right in our community,” said Nick Picardo, the school district superintendent. “I believe this playground will become a central place for families to gather, play, and enjoy the outdoors right here in Kendall.”

The playground was funded as a part of $12,680,000 capital project that was approved in December 2023.

That project was nearly entirely focused on the elementary school. The work included:

• An estimated $11,122,076 at the elementary school with site improvements and new paving, and a new playground with age-appropriate equipment. Inside the elementary school, projects include safety and security upgrades to interior doors, entryways, and alarm systems, as well as energy- efficient classroom lighting, corridor enhancements and auditorium upgrades, according to the district.
• The project includes $153,089 in work at the junior-senior high school for common area improvements with new flooring and lighting.
• In the transportation building, the capitol project includes two bus lifts at a cost of $1,065,278.
• A new roof for the Buildings & Grounds facility at a estimated cost of $339,557.

The new playground features cutting-edge structures including the Volo Aire, a multi-level climbing tower with covered slides that is the first of its kind on the East Coast. Other highlights include a zipline, We-Go-Round, We-Saws, swings, climbing mounds, chill spinners, and shaded seating areas.

Designed with accessibility at its core, the playground includes ground-level entry points, durable turf surfacing, and equipment designed to accommodate children with limited mobility. Dedicated areas for both younger and older elementary students ensure that children of all ages can play safely and comfortably.

Kendall school officials, including Board of Education President Rachel Fisken with scissors, celebrate the new playground on Wednesday.

This new addition is a major milestone not just for the district, but for the region: a protected design radius has been placed around Kendall, ensuring that no other nearby playgrounds will feature the same exclusive components, the school district stated in a news release.

 “In early January 2025, with a completed design in hand, the superintendent received a frantic call from me thanks to a brand-new, never-before-seen structure having just been released to the market,” said Andy Walsh, Genesee Regional Manager of Parkitects. “Under Nick Picardo’s leadership and with the support of the Kendall team, the decision was made to pivot and include the first Volo Aire in New York State. That bold move brought one of the most inclusive and accessible tower structures ever built to the Kendall community.”

Planning for the playground began with a unique focus on student voice and research. A student-led committee worked alongside staff and design experts to test playgrounds across Western New York and cast votes on preferred features—including the curly slide, which won by a landslide during Kendall’s own “Voting Day” in November 2023.

“This vibrant new space is more than just a place to play, it’s a reflection of our community’s creativity, collaboration, and commitment to joyful learning,” said Elementary Principal Kevin Watson. “From the first sketch to the final bolt, this playground was designed with our students in mind. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve built together.”