William Miller Memorial School - Napakiak, Alaska

School Playground Design for All Ages

The new William Miller Memorial School in Napakiak, Alaska, needed a playground that could serve its Pre K–12 students while standing up to the extreme northern climate. In partnership with the Lower Kuskokwim School District and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, Northwest Playground provided consultation, design, play equipment, and safety surfacing for this unique project.

Inclusive and Accessible Play Equipment

The playground includes Playworld’s PlayTown structure for ages 2–5 and the Unity Spin R and Tower with climbing and sliding elements for older students. A variety of swings, spinners, and climbers provide fun challenges while ensuring every child has an opportunity to play.

Durable Safety Surfacing for Extreme Conditions

Because Napakiak is only accessible by boat or plane, all equipment had to arrive by barge. To ensure long-term durability, we selected SofSURFACES DuraSafe tiles for the playground surface. These resilient tiles provide ADA-accessible pathways and reliable performance in the harsh northern environment, while also supporting inclusive play for all children.

Bringing Active Play to Remote Alaska

This project demonstrates how thoughtful playground design can create a safe, inclusive, and engaging space for students in one of Alaska’s most remote communities. By combining high-quality Playworld equipment with durable surfacing solutions, we were able to help bring active play and learning opportunities to the home of the Huskies.