Calverton School Unveils Renovated Playground Following $150,000 State Investment

HUNTINGTOWN, Md. — Students at The Calverton School returned to campus this week with something new waiting for them.

The school unveiled its renovated playground at Chaney Field on Aug. 25 during its annual Orientation and Community Picnic. The project added new play equipment, surfacing and fencing to an area that has served generations of Calverton students.

A $150,000 state capital grant helped make the improvements possible.

For Head of School Adrienne Forgette, the project represents more than replacing aging equipment.

“We really just wanted to maximize it to give more opportunities for joyful play,” Forgette told The BayNet.

The previous playground structure had been in place since 2004. Forgette described it as “well loved” after years of use.

She said growth at Calverton’s Lower School increased the need. Nearly 200 students now attend the school’s pre-K through fifth-grade program, according to Forgette.

The renovated space includes a new set of swings and two large climbing structures. Crews also added new fencing and blue rubber mulch throughout the playground.

Students even helped decide what would go into the space.

Students Had A Say

Lower School Head Heidi Merryman gave students an opportunity to vote on the new playground equipment during the spring.

“They really were excited to have their say,” Forgette said.

That student involvement fits into how Calverton hopes children will use the space.

Forgette pointed to the school’s mission of leading with empathy and honor, building connections through inquiry and embracing challenges as opportunities.

A playground, she said, can put those ideas into practice.

A child who cannot cross the monkey bars today, for example, may set that as a goal and eventually build the confidence to do so.

The space also provides students with another opportunity to connect with one another outside the classroom.

“When you think about mental health, and you think about social-emotional learning, having places for students to gather and to play is super important,” Forgette said.

Chaney Field also carries history for the school. Calverton named the area in honor of Richard and Mary Mac Chaney, whose family has longstanding ties to the school.

Forgette said seniors also traditionally gather there for a class photo while wearing shirts representing the colleges they plan to attend.

“Chaney Field reflects Calverton’s rich history and just the generations of people who helped shape the school,” Forgette said.

She hopes the renovated playground will give another generation a place to create those memories.

State Funding Supports Campus Improvements

Maryland records show the playground project received $150,000 in state funding. Sen. Kevin M. Harris sponsored the bond initiative. The final funding included a $100,000 Senate initiative and another $50,000 in state funding.

Forgette said major capital projects can be difficult for an independent school to fund through its operating budget alone. She estimated that tuition supports about 90% of Calverton’s budget.

“Big capital projects like these, quite honestly, would not be possible without the help of these state grants,” she said.

The playground is not the only recent investment on the school’s campus.

Calverton also received $200,000 for community access and roadway improvements. The school used that funding to repave the main loop around its academic buildings and add new pavement markings.

Forgette said the roadway had needed attention for more than a decade.

More work could also be ahead.

The state awarded Calverton another $250,000 for a stormwater infrastructure improvement project. Forgette said the school has begun working with engineers on that effort.

The project could help pave the way for future improvements.

For now, the newest change is that students can already climb, swing, and play on it.

Forgette said the goal is to build on Chaney Field’s history while creating “a more vibrant area where kids can make more memories and make some magic happen.”

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