Before the dedication of the Steps to Success Memorial Playground at its new home at Zion Lutheran Church, 18 Quarry Road, Leola, on May 30, Michelle Harbaugh, director of Steps to Success, referred to the event as "an open house celebration of the playground." The celebration included a dedication with Zion Lutheran pastor Karen Larson officiating, refreshments, and a chance for the Steps community members to see and enjoy the relocated equipment.

According to Harbaugh, the playground was accessible to the community while it was being built at Zion in 2021, but a fence was put in to meet local requirements, and the event was an opportunity to visit again. "The playground is locked when we aren't here," she noted.

The original fenced playground was built at the prior Steps to Success location at 26 Hillcrest Ave., Leola, in 2007. Harbaugh said that funding had been given in honor of a retired teacher who was also a student's grandparent. "It was built in memory of Anne Persons Robinson," reported Harbaugh, who said that between 2015 and 2017, the organization raised funds and Steps received more funds to expand the playground donated in memory of grandparents. "(The toddler playground) had a poured rubber surface and donated playsets," she pointed out. That playground, which was dedicated in April of 2018, was built in memory of Grace Eicher and Lee Rowland, grandparents of students at Steps. The name of the Rev. Irvin E. Straw, Jr., a board member and supporter from 1995 to 2019, was added to those names on the dedication plaque.

"The playground transformed when it moved in the spring of 2021," reported Harbaugh. "It has a brand-new look to it," she pointed out, saying that while some of the equipment is the same, it is configured differently. "The space is new, but the equipment donated in memory of people is there," she explained, noting that some green space has been incorporated. "We've added the garden boxes. They were an Eagle Scout project completed by Josh Herr in June 2021," said Harbaugh. She noted that the seven boxes had never officially been dedicated, but that they were dedicated with a plaque in honor of Lourdes Berke, a longtime Steps teacher, who recently underwent a kidney transplant. "She loves gardening as much as she loves kids, so we decided to name the gardens in her honor," said Harbaugh.

The dedication included a new plaque placed on a bench in the playground area in honor of Melissa Readman's 23 years of service to shaping young minds at Steps to Success.

In June of 2021, Josh Herr added seven garden boxes outside the playground to complete his Eagle Scout Project.

Readers who would like to know more about Steps to Success may visit http://www.stepstosuccessinc.com or call 717-656-3363.