F.H. Paschen Expands Orange County Public Schools Playground Partnership to $4.2 Million

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - National Infrastructure builder F.H. Paschen has expanded its footprint in the Southeast K-12 education sector, securing a series of playground modernization projects with Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) totaling more than $4M of work over the past year.

Headquartered in Orlando, Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) is the public school district for Orange County, in Central Florida. OCPS is the eighth-largest school district in the United States and the fourth-largest in Florida.

The partnership between F.H. Paschen and OCPS began with a half-million dollar program to replace the tot and youth lot playgrounds at MetroWest Elementary School in Orlando in Summer of 2025.

Following the completion of the initial playground project and armed with strong performance reviews, OCPS awarded Paschen two subsequent projects at Wyndham Lakes and Arbor Ridge Elementary Schools, both finalized at the end of 2025. This week, F.H.Paschen’s Florida team officially broke ground on its latest OCPS project: the Sally Ride Elementary School Exceptional Student Education (ESE) playground in Orlando. Scheduled for completion before school resumes in late summer, the project focuses entirely on inclusive design, featuring specialized equipment, ramps, and sensory elements to cater to children with disabilities.

"We are building spaces where every child, regardless of ability, can play together safely," said Ron Rydosz, F.H. Paschen Project Executive. "The trust Orange County Public Schools has placed in our team allows us to deliver high-quality infrastructure that directly benefits local families."

The latest scope of work includes replacing outdated playground structures with modern equipment that meets current safety standards. Comprehensive site work features new drainage systems, concrete sub-bases, concrete curbing, chain-link fencing, shade structures, and landscape restoration. To ensure safety, tot lots receive poured rubber safety surfacing, while youth lots are finished with an engineered wood fiber base.

Paschen’s momentum with OCPS will continue into the Fall of 2026, as the district has awarded the firm five additional school playground projects to be completed before the end of the year.

“F.H. Paschen continues to grow in the Southeast and these projects with OCPS are the latest example”, said Tom Cross, F.H. Paschen’s Chief Growth Officer. “We have a world-class team capable of working with nearly every type of public and private customer, that has taken the lead on hundreds of construction and renovations projects across Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.”

With offices in Atlanta and Savannah in Georgia, Tampa and Pompano Beach in Florida and Raleigh North Carolina, F.H. Paschen’s growing presence in the Southeast is driven by the company’s commitment to building better communities. The company continues to grow in the region by leveraging innovative delivery methods, including design-build, construction management at-risk, and Job Order Contracting to meet the evolving demands of both public and private clients across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

F.H. Paschen is actively hiring for roles across the Southeast including Estimators, Project Managers, Superintendent and Project Engineers. More information on a career @ F.H. Paschen can be found here.

Source: F.H. Paschen.