On May 20, 2003, Dennis Wille, a designer from Leathers and Associates who grew up in Racine, visited Janes and Red Apple elementary schools in Racine to get ideas from the children about what they would like to see in a playground (see photos).

By lunchtime, Dennis was sketching the playground based on the children's ideas and dreams. The children were able to watch the design unfolding as Dennis worked into the afternoon.

The playground design was unveiled at the evening community celebration at Red Apple School. The program began with three "playground" songs by students from Red Apple, "Dancin' in the Playground," "Kid Feet," and "Don't Forget the Little Children."

To describe the new playground, Dennis walked us through some of the features:

• Sunken ship
• Maze
• Tube slide
• Shaky bridge
• Climbing wall
• Vertical tunnel
• Giant coho salmon with a slide coming out of its mouth
• Telephone system
• Lighthouse
• Sand castle
• Sailboat
• Turtle
• Swings
• Firepole
• Obstacle course
• Rings and ladder
• And more!

Karen Severson, Children's Design Day Chair