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HOLLADAY — Jeffrey Scott and Kirk Schneider went to preschool together more than 50 years ago, and they're still friends today. Now the two successful businessmen are giving back to the place where they met.
“We remember very little of our preschool years, except we do remember playing. And playtime was very important to us, so it’s our goal to give back and give the young kids that same opportunity we had,” said Scott, owner of Intermountain Bobcat.
That’s why he and Schneider, now owner of Nate Wade Subaru in Salt Lake City, decided to donate money and manpower to create a playground for their alma mater Holladay Preschool. The school has also had hands-on construction help from about 40 to 50 volunteers each day.
Preschool director Kristi Thompson said playing outside is a critical part of development for her young students in socializing and improving motor skills. She is excited about the safety features — which include recycled tire mulch as padding — but also the fun and imaginative parts.
“Instead of just getting the same, pre-fab playground that you see all over the place, we’re creating a big, beautiful fort that can be a castle, or a pirate ship, or anything that these kids can imagine,” Thompson said.
She anticipates the playground will be ready for kids to use in about a week. It will include teeter-totters, swings, slides, a sand box, a climbing wall and more.
As for Scott and Schneider, this may not be the kind of playground they met on, but they hope it will be exciting for kids for many years.
“We’re happy to be here. I mean, it’s pretty rare to have a friendship that’s gone on for 55 years,” said Schneider said.
In addition to the new playground, Holladay Preschool is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
