Last week, Bath at Play opened its new community playground at Grace Episcopal Church, offering children living in the city a safe place to play.

The playground at 1100 Washington St. opened to the public on Thursday, Aug. 21, said John Byram, president and treasurer of the nonprofit Bath at Play.

Kids living in Bath play on the new playground after a year of fundraising and grant funding with Bath at Play and the Grace Episcopal Church. (Courtesy of John Byram)

“Word kind of got out that we didn’t have the tape up anymore on the fence, and people came in droves,” Byram said. “They continue to come in droves.”

This first phase of the playground construction cost $30,000. The second phase, scheduled for the spring of 2026, includes the installation of a permanent story walk connecting from the playground to Washington Street. The story walk will feature a seasonal selection of stories by Maine authors, including “Miss Rumphius” by Barbara Cooney and “Maine Alphabet” by Dahlov Ipcar.

Last year, the projected budget for the playground was $60,000. However, Bath at Play shrunk its fundraising budget to $45,000 after raising $28,685 in donations. The Rev. Misty Kiwak Jacobs played a crucial role in securing two grants totaling $9,000 for the new playground.

“I have never come to the playground and have found it empty,” Byram said. “There has always been one to six families here, which really shows the need that this community has for playgrounds.”

The playground replaces an older one at the church, built in 2010, Byram said. Around 20 volunteers, including some Navy crew members of the future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. at Bath Iron Works, assisted with the preparation of the playground and the demolition of the older playground.

Kids play on the brand-new playground at the Grace Episcopal Church, made possible by the charitable nonprofit Bath at Play. (Courtesy of John Byram)

Playgrounds attached to schools have limited accessibility due to the security risks posed by individuals who are not staff or students on campus, and access may be further limited during summer school programs, Byram said.

Bath at Play’s next project will be the expansion of the River Walk Rhythm Instrument project, which the nonprofit organization is discussing with city officials and will promote through Bath Heritage Days and the Color Run, set to return in 2026. Bath at Play is currently in its third year and aims to highlight the importance of dedicated play spaces across the state.