How Coronado Day School is Showing Up for the Next Generation

In a town like New Smyrna Beach, progress doesn’t mean replacing the past, it means honoring it while creating room for the next generation to grow. On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Coronado Day School, an outreach ministry of Coronado Community United Methodist Church, welcomed families, church members, and community leaders, including Mayor Fred Cleveland, a longtime church member, and city commissioner Lisa Martin, to celebrate the ribbon cutting of its newly renovated playground. The event felt less like a formal ceremony and more like a neighborhood festival, complete with bright balloons, cotton candy, bounce houses, and the unmistakable sound of children having fun.

As a parent in attendance, I initially saw the event through the eyes of my daughter, who was eager to race toward the slide and explore the new space. But as the ribbon was cut, I found myself equally focused on the people holding it. The moment felt bigger than a playground. It felt like a bridge between generations.

“In the early years, the school operated inside the church building, and the children played together in a simple sandbox,” recalled Joan Davidson, a longtime local resident and church member since 1969. Davidson worked alongside Joan Harvey to help establish the Day School for families in the community. “To see the space now, with thoughtfully designed equipment and room for the children to grow, is incredibly heartwarming.”

According to CoronadoUMC.org, the school has been rooted in the community since 1970. That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people invest their time, their leadership, and often decades of their lives into building something that will outlast them. Church members Richard “Rick” Fox, Owen Davidson, and Linda Vanis led the planning of the new playground, continuing that long tradition of hands-on dedication that has sustained the church in the community for more than half a century.

“I wanted to be part of the planning because my daughter and her family are part of this community,” said Rick Fox. “This was a meaningful way for me to give back and invest in something that will serve families for years to come. One of the key priorities was creating a separate toddler area, so even our youngest children would have a space designed just for them.”

The multi-generational event unveiled the new outdoor space at the beachside campus, located at 201 S. Peninsula Ave. The project was a collaboration between local company Florida Coast to Coast Construction and Bliss Products & Services, transforming the area into a thoughtfully designed, age-appropriate playscape. Divided by developmental stages and covered with shade structures, the new playground features step-up platforms, playhouses, sensory panels, a small rock-climbing wall, a bright blue slide, a push-bike track, and soft turf designed for both safety and comfort.

As a parent, I felt gratitude knowing my child will benefit from something thoughtfully created by people who care about this community. As someone who spends much of my professional life working with longtime residents, seniors and visitors, I am constantly reminded that the strongest foundations are laid quietly over time. The ribbon cutting was more than a celebration of new equipment, it was a reminder that legacy lives in the spaces we build for others to grow.

New Smyrna Beach residents Shannon Schneider and Rose Armstrong serve as co-directors of the Day School. Schneider, who has been with the school for 18 years, emphasized the importance of outdoor learning in early childhood development. “Modern education recognizes that learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door,” Schneider said. “A thoughtfully designed playground reinforces our commitment to physical development, supports social-emotional growth, and encourages creative, imaginative play.”

Armstrong agreed, adding, “The new playground represents more than upgraded equipment, it marks a meaningful step in the continued growth and evolution of the Day School.”

I watched my daughter experience lots of fun on the playground. I couldn’t help but notice every person in attendance helped bring the vision to life: city leaders, day school staff, longtime church members, local families and all the children. The joy on the playground belonged to the children, but the impact belongs to generations.

Places like this don’t just happen. They come to life because people care enough to show up, give back, and think beyond themselves. In New Smyrna Beach, that kind of heart is what keeps our community growing in all the right ways.

Any information provided for this news column is based on personal research and analysis
and does not reflect the views or opinions of Ocean Properties & Management Inc.