S.S. Dillow Elementary family engagement specialist Marcell Gilliard began his mission to bring a new playground to the elementary months ago.
This week, the mission is coming true.
“I think it’s going to benefit us very, very well because we have a large population and a new generation that is coming in,” Gilliard said. “And, of course, with pre-K — they’re the babies so it’s nice to shape their minds now.”
A volunteer shovels mulch on July 19 at S.S. Dillow Elementary. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Pieces of a playground sit on the ground on July 19 at S.S. Dillow Elementary. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Director of Project Management at Kaboom! Ted Friedman, 36, helps volunteers construct a playground part on July 19 at S.S. Dillow Elementary. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Playground beams are dug into the ground on July 19 at S.S. Dillow Elementary. Construction on the playground is set to conclude July 21. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Volunteers gather to construct a new playground on July 19 at S.S. Dillow Elementary. In partnership with nonprofit Kaboom!, Fort Worth ISD built a series of new playgrounds. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
A volunteer opens a concrete bag on July 19. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
A machine drills a hole into the ground on July 19 at S.S. Dillow Elementary. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)
S.S. Dillow Elementary is the latest school to partner with nonprofit Kaboom! to build a new playground — W.J. Turner Elementary and Western Hills Elementary built playgrounds in June 2022; all three playgrounds cost $150,000, according to a bid the school board approved in May. Volunteers gathered on July 18 to begin construction, which is set to conclude July 21.
“It’s going to be amazing and this playground is open to the public, as well, so it’s going to get the community involved,” Gilliard said.
Cristian ArguetaSoto is the community engagement journalist at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him by email or via Twitter. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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