Lake Dillon Preschool
Lake Dillon Preschool
Dillon, Colorado
Year
2026: Design Phase
Age Group
Infant, Toddler & Preschool
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Overview:
At 9,000 feet above sea level, Dillon, Colorado sits within a breathtaking mountain landscape. From the playground at Lake Dillon Preschool, the view stretches across the waters of Lake Dillon, framed by surrounding peaks. Yet the children’s outdoor play space didn’t reflect the beauty or identity of this community. The team at Lake Dillon Preschool wanted something more—something that truly connected their school to the place they call home. They envisioned an outdoor environment that reflected the spirit of Colorado and the rhythms of mountain life. A space where children could explore, collaborate, and build the foundations of learning through play. That vision led them to a partnership with Bienenstock.
Spaces for Every Stage of Early Childhood
Lake Dillon Preschool serves three distinct age groups, each with unique developmental needs.
The outdoor classroom was carefully designed to provide separate but connected environments where children can explore safely while still experiencing the shared community of the school.
The main preschool space encourages active exploration and physical mastery through climbing elements and open-ended play features. Sand areas invite digging, shaping, and collaborative building—activities that strengthen both fine motor development and social cooperation.
A dedicated toddler space provides a gentle, age-appropriate environment for younger children. It features a grassy mound and a quiet grove of aspens, connected by a small bridge, creating a sense of exploration within a contained setting.
Toddlers also have their own sand play area, complete with a small climber integrated into the log border. Nearby, a collection of “wacky posts” is woven into the new Ponderosa Pine grove, supporting toddler-appropriate, open-ended play. In this space, toddlers are encouraged to crawl, balance, observe, and discover the world at their own pace. Each area supports child-led exploration, allowing children to choose their own challenges and develop confidence through repetition and discovery.
Native Trees and Sensory Rich Play
The original site had very little tree cover, with most existing trees located outside the fenced area. The design repositions the fence to incorporate these established Aspen and Blue Spruce, while also introducing new groves of Aspen and Ponderosa Pine—species native to Colorado’s mountain landscapes.
The design team also explored how to thoughtfully integrate aspens into the play space while respecting their natural growth patterns. Because aspens thrive near water, a grove is placed alongside the sand and water play areas, reflecting this ecological relationship.
An additional Aspen grove was introduced at the center of the space to full sensory engagement. From a sensory perspective, musical instruments were intentionally placed beneath this grove to take advantage of the distinctive “quivering” sound of aspen leaves in the wind, creating a natural soundscape to accompany children’s musical play.
A grove of Ponderosa Pines was also incorporated, providing year-round color, shade, and a steady supply of loose parts for sensory exploration. As children move between the water, sand, and trees, they experience the landscape as a connected system, engaging with nature through exploration and sensory play.
Learning Alongside the Landscape
The educators at Lake Dillon Preschool embraced the transformation. During the design process, educators regularly attended Jill Bienenstock’s monthly educational webinars, learning how to support nature-based play in their soon to be new playspace.
The commitment from the teaching team has been nothing short of remarkable—often gathering together in the same room to learn, discuss, and prepare for how the new space will support their students. Once the space is complete, the educators will continue their training to deepen their understanding of how to activate the environment and support child-led learning outdoors.
A Playground That Belongs to the Mountains
The Lake Dillon Preschool sensory-rich natural playground now reflects the place it calls home. The result is more than a playground. It’s a place where children can build the foundations of learning through play.
