By Kathy Onorato
Whitefield Elementary School third graders Evelyn Rousseau, Kiley Lee, and Keegan Bond give the new monkey bars a try on the first day of school. (Kathy Onorato photo) |
The first phase of the new Whitefield Community Playground has been completed and the opening day of school, Sept. 2 marked the official opening of the playground located at the Whitefield Elementary School.
The new playground equipment features swings, slides, monkey bars, and a climbing wall. More equipment will be added over the next two years, said the school’s principal Joshua McNaughton.
Over the summer many community volunteers and school officials worked to install the new playground equipment. The school’s custodian Lewis Shorey and Sue Peaslee, an educational technician representing the entire summer crew, did the honor of cutting the ribbon.
“They put in a tremendous number of hours to make this happen,” McNaughton said.
The new equipment purchased from Landscape Structures is made of a durable plastic material and won’t require much maintenance, McNaughton said. According to Landscape Structures’ website the material used on its equipment won’t chip or peel and will hold up in all kinds of weather.
The new playground equipment replaces an old wooden structure which was more than 30 years old and had been deteriorating to the point of becoming a safety issue, McNaughton said.
“Look – no more splinters,” McNaughton said, rubbing his hand on the new equipment, which generated a round of applause from students and staff.
McNaughton said his students were involved in the selection of the equipment they will be using. Students polled last year picked out the red and yellow color of the playground and voted the first phase should include swings, monkey bars, and a slide.
This coming spring students will once again be involved in helping select the equipment to be purchased for Phase II. McNaughton said the decision will not be easy.
“There is lots to choose from,” McNaughton said.
The total cost of the three phase project is expected to exceed $50,000, McNaughton said, therefore it was decided to spread the project out over three years.
Phase I cost an estimated $15,000 of which $10,000 was appropriated in the RSU 12 school budget and the Whitefield PTA contributed the additional $5,000, McNaughton said.
The Whitefield’s PTA will continue fundraising efforts to help complete the playground. A 5K road race is planned for Saturday, Sept. 13 in conjunction with Whitefield Day. For more information on the road race director Anthony Anderson at 441-9738 or by email at andersonfit5@gmail.com. All proceeds from the race will benefit the playground fund.
Other fundraising include the ongoing collection of Box Tops for Education collection, which pays the school 10 cents for every box top. Residents are encouraged to save the box tops of participating products and get them to the school. For a list of participating products visit www.boxtops4education.com.
