By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Calvary Christian School recently unveiled a new play yard renovation with grade-specific grand opening celebrations on Monday, September 20.
The new play area will be used during the school day for recess and physical education, as well as for after school sports. It will primarily be used by students in first through fifth grade, though the sport court will be used by all students.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Calvary parent body, Elementary School students have a new, state-of-the-art, fully renovated outdoor space with extensive play and seating options,” shared Victory Ludwig, Calvary’s communications and events manager. “It is great, especially this year with COVID protocols still in place, because it gives us an additional outdoor space for our competitive games, so we can allow for more spectators.”
The proposed project to make improvements at the school dates back to fall of 2019, when Calvary Christian School earned the support of Pacific Palisades Community Council and its Land Use Committee.
Designed to “include something for every child,” the renovated yard features areas for wallball and foursquare, in addition to shaded and contemplative areas for reading and socialization.
“Along with these exciting features for active play and quiet spaces, Calvary enhanced on-campus security with beautiful gates and walls around the permanent play space,” Ludwig added.
The area, which was previously a parking lot, was also used as a blacktop play area during the week. Due to a modification in Calvary’s conditional use permit, the school was able to redesign the area into the play space and sports area it is today.
“In our commitment to continually improve our campus to best serve our students, it is exciting to see the incredible reception of our new outdoor play space,” Head of School Vince Downey shared. “In designing this space, we kept in mind their physical, emotional and social health, and are thrilled to see this space fulfilling what we had envisioned for our students. They are loving it.”
The school welcomed Del Amo Construction, who completed the project, to join the grand opening festivities, as well as members of the school board.
“Even with the unique challenges of this playground timeline, in the midst of a pandemic, Del Amo completed the project on time for a grand opening at the beginning of the school year,” Ludwig reported.
The project was designed by Culver City firm Berliner Architects.
Calvary Christian School, a private school in The Highlands, has its campus on a seven-acre site—described by the school as a “retreat from the hustle and bustle of life on the Westside of Los Angeles.” Founded by Calvary Church in the early 1960s, the school and church moved to its current campus in 1989. Today, the school serves more than 400 students in preschool, kindergarten, and elementary and middle school. Since the summer of 2015, the school has revitalized its 23 classrooms.
“In recent years Calvary’s turf sports field and dedicated sport court underwent a full overhaul, allowing students to have the best facilities on which to practice, play and compete,” the website reported. “Other minor updates were completed around campus, including our gym lobby, elementary building, courtyard, main offices and outdoor lunch areas.”
According to Ludwig, Phase 2 of Calvary’s renovation, which is also designed by Berliner Architects, is slated to include a new lunch servery and updated student eating area, as well as an additional new play structure for the youngest elementary students.
“The plans are already in place,” Ludwig concluded, “with a proposed completion during summer of 2022.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to add information about Berliner Architects’ work on the project.
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