LINCOLN — After years of planning, building and community effort, the Lincoln Community School will celebrate the opening of Potato Hill Park on Sunday, Oct. 14, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
This three-year project began with landscape architect Deina Olstad’s design, which, with community input, was a beautiful, functional and diverse space. The school then received a $100,000 grant from the Vermont Land and Water Conservation Fund, which required a match of cash and in-kind donations. 
Friends of the Lincoln Community School President Andrew Furtsch spearheaded a vigorous fundraising campaign that brought in $120,000. Furtsch also worked closely with design team members, the broader school district finance team, and contractors to insure a viable and thorough project.
Throughout the course of the effort, other major funding sources included $11,500 from the LCS Playground Committee, and $7,500 from the Fieldstone Foundation. Olstad, founder of Nordland Studio, and Mary Beth Stilwell of MB Architecture + Design contributed significant in-kind donations of landscape design and architectural services. Owner’s Representative Steve Harris of Harris and Harris Consulting donated his services to oversee the entire project. The Addison Northeast Supervisory Union contracted with Acker Excavating for the site work and Bobby Stoddard Construction for construction of the play elements.
A schedule of events for this Sunday’s grand opening includes:
12:30 p.m. — bring a picnic to enjoy.
1:15 p.m. — Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
12:30-2:30 p.m. — play on the new climbing structures, walk (or wheelchair) the perimeter path along the New Haven River; join a soccer game; explore the new timber-frame pavilion, circular seating and garden beds.
RAIN DATE
School officials have set a potential rain date of Sunday, Oct. 28, 12:30-2:30 p.m., and school Principal Tory Riley invites everyone to “come and enjoy the collaborative efforts that made this community resource a reality!”
For more information, contact Riley at 453-2119 or [email protected]