SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Playgrounds are a fixture of school yards, but students didn’t just play on the John G Whittier Community Schoolyard, they helped design it.

“It’s very magical and happy that other kids can come play on here,” said Marcianna Rivera, a former student at the school.

3 years ago, students in Ms. O’Malley’s 2nd Grade class brainstormed and over many sessions, helped plan many aspects of the playground. On Tuesday, they saw it in full force.

School staff, city officials, and more came to the Whittier Elementary School for the playground’s ribbon cutting.

Speakers commended the students on their creativity and ideas as well as highlighting the inclusive play equipment, open green space, new and native trees and fauna, and green stormwater infrastructure. – all aspects that O’Malley says were student ideas.

“They really wanted to make sure that it was going to be accessible for all,” said O’Malley. “That was their first and foremost, the most important part there. They also wanted to make sure that there was fun, fun involved. So, the slides, you know, we were hoping for swings, and you know, anything like that, that would be great to get the kids involved. But they also wanted to make sure that there was a lot of nature involved as well.”

Elizabeth O’Malley has since taught other 2nd grade classes since the planning, but says she’s so proud to see her students’ dreams become a reality.

“I’ve been at Whittier for a very long time, and we’ve never had a space like this ever,” continued O’Malley. “So, to see this and to see the kids, the smiles on their faces and have it all done and they are they are clawing to come out here. They can’t wait. So, I mean yeah, I was very, very proud of them, you know, and all the hard work that they had put together. So, I mean it’s just it’s a great day. It’s a great day to be here.”

The playground is the second of three planned schoolyards to be built in the city and will be open to the public during non-school hours.

For the former 2nd graders, now fifth graders, that helped design it, it’s a place where current and future kids can have fun and be themselves.

“It’s very fun. And I think it’s, very unique,” said Jeyana Lize Ramos, who cut the ribbon during the ceremony. “It how not like not other schools kind of have this, but it’s really fun because they can come whenever they want.”

“Be who you want to be on this playground,” said Rivera, one of Ramos’ good friends. “Nobody would judge you and just stay yourself!”

The playground is now open to the public to play on.