Built in the late 1800s, Washington Elementary School in Fayetteville began to appear in local papers as early as 1915 regarding concerns surrounding the safety and condition of the playground. The concerns continued to resurface periodically for the next 100 years. Any rain event brought glass, debris, and exposed rock, making the area unsafe. Drainage issues from the unstable slopes of the playground, e.g., silt, washed off the school property into the city’s storm sewers. The Fayetteville School District (FSD) recognizing that these drainage and safety issues had plagued Washington Elementary far too long, began the process to address these issues.

In 2017, with a budget of $600,000, the FSD selected Crafton Tull as the primary design consultant. The FSD planned to have construction begin and commence in the summer of 2018. Design solutions were addressed and reviewed by the FSD and Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) in October 2017. Over the next several months, Crafton Tull worked closely with the FSD to create conceptual designs and provide technical guidance on the project. Ultimately, construction documents were developed and advertised for bid in late 2017.

After revisions, the plans were accepted and advertised for bid in early 2018. Work began in the summer of 2018 and was completed by late September of the same year.