by Dan Burke, Chuck Greening, Paul Kamin, David Kau, Zackarya Leck, Mark Mayer, Pete Moe and Margaret Payne (Playground-on-the-Green Committee) in partnership with San Juan County Parks, San Juan County Public Works, and the Orcas Island Community Foundation.

The new playground being constructed on the Village Green is almost there—but needs a little more help to get over the finish line.

Giant cedar logs donated by Moran State Park are in place; as well as epic stonework and landscaping by Greening and Greening. Island Market has donated $8,000 for hand-milled cedar benches, with wood donated by the Port of Orcas. OICF donated $2,500 for landscape trees in honor of its 25th Anniversary.

A drinking fountain/water bottle filling station has been funded in honor of Ginny Lu Woods, with installation donated by Eastsound Water Users Association. Funding for a custom slide by Zackarya Leck has been secured. Island Excavating and Orcas Freight have donated time, transportation and materials. Dozens of other businesses and individuals have donated generously to the project.

The Playground Committee is currently seeking donations for some of the finishing details to get the project completed—we need funding for sand, gravel, and cedarwood chips. We need to fund an ADA ramp and finish off the decorative fence at the northwest corner. We need to finish the site landscaping, and re-build the road to the stage. We need your support!

The Playground-on-the-Green’s nature-based design mimics what kids would find in the woods or at the beach. Research shows that nature-based play stimulates children’s imaginations by allowing them to put a personal “stamp” on their play; builds their confidence in assessing risk; supports physical coordination, balance, and orientation skills; and encourages kids to develop social skills as they play creatively.

The project will also be beautiful, built by our island’s best public artists—many of those who designed and built the iconic Stage-On-The-Green.

The Playground-on-the-Green celebrates over two years of planning, fundraising, and construction by Orcas Island citizens and organizations. Help us get this project over the finish line by donating online at or through the Orcas Island Community Foundation at (at “Make a Donation,” scroll down to “Community Funds,” then through the alphabetical listings to “Playground at the Village Green”).