Frequently Asked Questions

Littlebrook’s outdoor grounds are in need of improvements, which can be best categorized in one of three areas: 1) deferred maintenance, 2) drainage issues, and 3) replacing playground equipment, where necessary. Each of these categories falls under the District’s purview, and it has been the role of the Outdoor Grounds Capital Improvement Committee (OGCIC) to keep momentum going and represent Littlebrook’s priorities to the District and Princeton’s Board of Education.

• Deferred maintenance includes things like replacing the fence along Magnolia Lane, repairing broken playground equipment, removing trip hazards, etc., and Littlebrook is in ongoing discussions with the District about issues like these.

• Drainage issues are affecting several schools in the PPS district, and the Littlebrook grounds continue to be a priority for the District.

• Likewise, playground equipment across PPS is near the end of its natural life and will need to be replaced. This is especially true at Littlebrook, and the OGCIC has worked with playground safety inspectors and playground designers to identify which structures have the most significant deterioration. Playground equipment is expensive, often running between $30,000-$80,000 per play structure. The District may fund repairs and comparable replacements from their standard operating budget (“Major Maintenance”) or from their reserve fund (“Capital Reserves”). Given the scope of this project (and similar scope undertaken at the other PPS elementary schools), the District may choose to pursue a referendum to handle the costs - much like they did with the recent roofing repairs.

All of this takes time! If the Littlebrook community would like to see changes happen more quickly, the best way to effect change is to join the OGCIC - the squeaky wheel gets the oil, and we’ll “squeak” louder with more voices!

While the District is responsible for maintaining District property (routine maintenance, resolving safety and drainage issues, and the repair and replacement of broken equipment), a project of this magnitude will require financial participation from all parties. 

The District has a few different funding sources, and Littlebrook PTO may also fundraise for equipment and donate the items to the District (as Littlebrook did in 2018, with the SpaceBall on the rear playground, or as Johnson Park did with their ampitheatre). The OGCIC’s goal is to “redevelop Littlebrook School’s outdoor areas to prioritize play in a way that is inviting, useful, and safe” – restoring Littlebrook’s outdoor grounds to a reasonable level of functionality will require a significant amount of money, and Littlebrook needs to have some skin in the game! 

Ultimately, financing this project will be a dance between the District and Littlebrook’s PTO - and our children will be the beneficiaries of this collaboration. 

First of all, thank you so much for your donation! This is a "once in a generation" capital improvement campaign, and we are truly grateful for every single dollar donated.

The "Playground Fund" is a designated fund run by the Littlebrook PTO Executive Board, which means that expenses from this account may only be made in support of stewardship of the playgrounds and outdoor play areas at Littlebrook Elementary School. Possible types of expenses include, but are not limited to:

• Purchase of play equipment; costs associated with shipping/freight and installation

• Town Hall events (presentation materials, refreshments, flyers, etc.)

• Fundraising events for the "Playground Fund"

• Equipment maintenance; aesthetic improvements

• And so on!

Depending on the expense, purchasing decisions will be made by some combination of the Littlebrook PTO Executive Board, Principal Luis Ramirez, the PPS district, and the Princeton Board of Education.

Littlebrook PTO will be hosting events throughout the school year to share information with the community and to raise money for this project. Please check the Littlebrook PTO website for a list of upcoming events, as well as recaps of events that you may have missed (like the Open House on Feb 3).

OGCIC has worked with two different vendors to prepare preliminary designs for the Magnolia Playground and the Rear Playground. These were presented at the Town Hall events in April 2023, and community feedback is being incorporated into the final designs before they are presented to the District and Board of Education.

If you have questions at any point in the process, please ask! This is a community project, through and through! The best way to shape this project and ensure its success is to participate in the process. You can communicate with the OGCIC by using our feedback page, or you may contact Portia Wong (portia.f.wong@gmail.com) with any additional questions or to volunteer.

Great question! The Outdoor Grounds Committee has lots of ways for you to get involved. 

Do you have some free time on your hands? We need members to volunteer their time by joining the Committee! The OGCIC represents Littlebrook's interests to the District and will facilitate the design and installation process. You can join the OGCIC by emailing Kati Dunn (kaldunn@gmail.com) or Portia Wong (portia.f.wong@gmail.com). 

Or maybe you don't have much free time, but you have experience with fundraising and know a lot of people around town. We need volunteers to help with fundraising ideas, and to pursue major giving opportunities through local businesses, individual donors, and corporate sponsorship.