From: Lindsey & David Garland
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment – City Council Meeting - 10/20/2025 Date: Monday, October 20, 2025 12:01:27 PM
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SUBJECT: The Heartbeat of Hampton Field
Dear Members of the City Council,
We’re writing as parents and proud members of the Piedmont community to share a frustration many local families know well: the search for childcare that feels less like a transaction and more like a community. In a city that treasures its heritage, it’s disheartening to see a practical, beloved solution—a ready-togo, fully funded, parent-led preschool program—met with silence. That silence isn’t just a missed opportunity; it risks erasing a legacy.
Our two children, now thriving in elementary school, began their journey at Piedmont Play School (PPS). In a world that rushes children toward academics, PPS offered something far more enduring: the freedom to learn through play, creativity, and connection. It was a safe haven where our children could simply be children.
More than that, PPS has always been a community managed by the community. Its parent-led cooperative model isn’t a quaint feature — it’s the school’s heartbeat. It has woven generations of families together and created a support network that extends far beyond the playground.
Now, the City has a choice. Before you is a proposal to expand this very model into a full-day preschool program at 401 Hampton — a plan that is fully licensed, community-driven, and requires no taxpayer funding. It preserves a cherished institution while meeting a critical and growing need for local families.
We’re not asking the City to build something new. We’re asking you to protect something proven — to recognize the partnership that already exists and to keep PPS where it belongs.
Please take action to engage with the PPS proposal, allow dialogue to continue, and keep this vital program in its home at 401 Hampton. The community has built this solution together. We simply ask that you honor and preserve it for future generations.
Thank you for your time and your service to our city.
Sincerely,
Lindsey & David Garland
Piedmont Residents and PPS Alumni Family
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David + Lindsey Garland