St. Patrick’s School in Oneida dedicates new playground

On the morning of Oct. 1, the St. Patrick’s School community in Oneida came together for a joyous occasion: the dedication and blessing of the school’s new playground. Despite a light rain, spirits remained high, prayers were offered, and students bounded down the slides.

The playground came to life through the inspiration and dream of Mrs. Kelly Miller, shared Kelli Zielinski, principal of St. Patrick’s School. Miller passed away in 2023. Her legacy is at the heart of the playground, Zielinski said.

“Kelly cared deeply about children, our school, and our community, and having a space where children can play, laugh, build friendships, and simply enjoy being kids is a beautiful way to honor that legacy,” Zielinski continued. “This playground is something that will benefit generations of St. Patrick’s students, so Kelly’s impact will continue to be felt here for many years to come. It is much more than a playground — it is a lasting reminder of the difference one person can make in a community.”

Another legacy that can be felt and remembered at the playground is that of Jennah Jbarra, a former St. Patrick’s student whose story holds a special place in the hearts of those in the school community. Jennah was a preschool student at St. Patrick’s when she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood cancer, and she eventually died in 2007.

“Throughout her journey, Jennah and her family touched the lives of so many people in our school and throughout the community,” Zielinski said. Four butterfly benches in Jennah’s memory can be found around the playground, which “provide places for our students to sit, talk, rest, and spend time together, making them a particularly meaningful addition to a playground centered on friendship, joy, and childhood.”

The Rocketeer Commercial Playground from King Swings Commercial was initially completed in May 2026, with added pieces since then, like the butterfly benches. The large play structure is designed for children ages 2 through 12 and can accommodate 40 to 70 children at a time. It features multiple towers and play decks, six slides, a rock wall, tree climber, monkey bars, activity panels, staircases, connecting play areas, and a matching swing set. Underneath the playground is a poured-in-place rubber surfacing that provides important impact absorption and creates a smooth, consistent play surface.

The students have been loving the new playground, Zielinski said, and there’s a noticeable excitement when it’s time to go outside and play. The playground has become an important part of the school’s emphasis on educating the whole child, as well.

“Children need opportunities to learn in the classroom, but they also need time to move, play, develop friendships, solve problems, and just have fun together. This playground gives them a space to do all of those things,” Zielinski said. “Seeing the joy on their faces and watching them make memories together has been incredibly rewarding.”

She added that the playground is also a visible reminder of how much the school’s children are loved and supported by the people around them.

The playground was made possible through a $20,000 grant from the Gorman Foundation, and $25,000 awards each from The Griffin Foundation and The Howard Foundation – a total of $70,000 that helped make the playground a reality. Zielinski said the school is grateful to these foundations for “believing in our school, our students, and this project. Their generosity helped turn something we had dreamed about into a reality that our children will enjoy for many years to come.

“A project like this does not happen because of one person or one organization. It happens because a community believes that its children are worth investing in,” Zielinski continued. “We are grateful to everyone who donated, volunteered, supported the project, and helped make this vision a reality. We are especially grateful for the opportunity to honor Kelly Miller’s legacy in a way that is so full of life and joy.”

Every day when the students run out to the playground, Zielinski said she’s reminded of the generosity and hard work of so many people who made it possible. “There is something very special about knowing that for years to come, children will run outside, climb, play, laugh with their friends, and make memories on this playground,” she said. “We can’t think of a more meaningful way for Kelly’s legacy to continue at St. Patrick’s School.”