Clay County, a small rural community of 9,300 residents located on the western border of North Carolina near Georgia, lacked a community park or playground. With three schools on one campus, a team of organizations and community members came together to provide a year-round opportunity for children to engage in physical activity that facilitates a variety of motor skills for developmental play.

Adventure Island playground was designed and built with input from Clay County children. Clay County Smart Start Team, a team of early learning educators, spearheaded the project. The Team held a design day during which the children were asked to draw what they wanted in a playground. The result was a Caribbean-themed playground that includes a small rock-climbing structure, slides, teeter-totter, stationary boat, artificial palm trees and handicapped accessible swings.

The county donated the land and the project team, which included representatives from local governments and community-based organizations, raised $60,000, from community fund-raisers and two grants. To save money, community volunteers including parents, construction workers, county workers, and school campus employees teamed up to create the playground over many weekends, building community for a common goal.