Little Folks Daycare

The Experience Design team collaborated with Environmental Design Group (Arrowstreet’s non-profit affiliate) to revitalize an underutilized outdoor space, turning it into a vibrant and engaging play area for children at Little Folks Daycare in East Boston. A key feature of the redesign is a hand-painted mural on the back wall that anchors the space. The mural is also visible from the street, adding color and energy to the surrounding neighborhood.

We began the mural process by sketching ideas and collaborating with the daycare’s executive director to capture their vision of a playful, welcoming, and imaginative space for children. After developing and refining design sketches with input from the staff, the walls were prepped and primed.

Painting was completed in stages, starting with chalk outlines, then base colors, detailed elements, and final touches to bring the design to life. On the second day of painting, children, staff, and volunteers were invited to join in, making the mural process even more special and collaborative.

Once the painting was complete, final refinements were made, and a protective sealant was applied to ensure longevity. The finished mural served as the final touch in transforming the space into a bright, engaging atmosphere for both staff and children to enjoy.

To connect the space visually with the daycare, signage was added to the outside gate in the same style and color palette as the mural, ensuring a cohesive design system.

The project was made possible through a generous grant from CEDAC’s Children’s Investment Fund, along with the collaborative efforts of Copley Wolff, Nitsch Engineering, Redgate, and Suffolk Construction.