JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 11
up, disassembled, repainted and rebuilt in the
shul’s backyard.
”
Until that point, Bais Chabad of Farmington
Hills didn’t have a very exciting playground
although there was a little woodsy area to explore.
Bergstein hired Tim Render of Playground
Professionals, who delivers and installs custom-
ized playgrounds, to help oversee the vision he
had.
“Tim’s an artist; he sees things that maybe the
rest of us don’t necessarily see, opportunities and
meaning where maybe we don’t see anything at
all,
” Bergstein said. For example, there was an
old tire Tim repurposed to look like an ador-
able caterpillar kids can climb through. An old
climbing structure was re-created into a lookout
post complete with binoculars.
“Best of all, Tim saw the possibility of using
the woods,
” the rabbi said. He created a path,
made a fire pit out of the natural rocks in the
yard and put a little bridge over a stream so
small that people had barely noticed it before.
He put in bird feeders to encourage visits from
birds and natural wildlife.
“Now it’s this incredible site, possibly the most
unique playground area in the country, with a
functional and appealing playground that’s as
beautiful as it was the day it was installed … and
a whole whimsical trail in the woods! It’s
like a different world,
” Bergstein said.
Render has been in the playground
business for 39 years and said most equip-
ment doesn’t fit as beautifully into its loca-
tion as this one.
“There was this natural flow right off
the bat … It’s this comfortable niche in
the middle of suburbia, with this amazing
cozy cocoon-like feeling, so many places
to explore and dappled shade poking
through the trees. These things mean a
lot to kids,
” Render said. “
And the rabbi
himself is a pleasure to work with. He’s
not young, but he’s sharp as a tack! He had
such a clear vision of what he wanted to
do, which I appreciated.
“The rabbi’s really personable, he’s got
such a spark, and is so interesting to listen
to,
” he continued. “We come from com-
pletely different backgrounds — I’m not Jewish!
— but I could listen to him all day. This project
has been so much fun.
”
Bergstein is also working together with
Render to put in a solar-paneled chicken coop.
“Watching hens lay eggs can help us all
appreciate HaShem’s world up close,
” the rabbi
said. “Every facet of a school or shul should be
contributing to the student’s education … Even
a playground shouldn’t just be a playground. It’s
an opportunity to fascinate kids, excite them
about the world and ignite their imagination
and creativity.
”
The Bergsteins are thrilled to share their slice
of imaginative paradise, and visitors have been
popping by to enjoy the beautiful playground
and nature trail. Former Ganeinu students,
now adults, especially adore the nostalgia this
beloved playground evokes.
“We originally did it because we didn’t want
the donor’s contribution to be destroyed, but
who could have imagined how their gift would
expand to the delightful experience it is now?”
the rabbi said.
If you’d like to explore the playground and woods,
please contact Rabbi Bergstein at (248) 613-1809.
LEFT: An old tire has been turned into
a fun caterpillar to climb through.
RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM:
A whimsical path through the woods. Rabbi
Bergstein and Tim Render outside the chicken
coop. A bridge leads into the woods.