It was a project five years in the making. Finally, after a whole lot of planning and fundraising, a new playground structure at St. Patrick’s school came to fruition last week.
Volunteer crews worked last Thursday, Friday and on the weekend to erect the structures, and the result is something the school, and the community at large, will be very happy with, according to one of the parent council members who was in on the planning from the ground up.
Jody Pyne was pleased to see work finally begin, and ultimately completed, on a playground structure.
“It’s been a long process, so we’re very excited that it’s coming to installation.”
St. Patrick’s principal Kevin Kinahan said the project’s cost meant a lot of fundraising was needed, along with help from the community.
“This is going to be over $170,000, and that’s not counting the donations of time.”
Those time donations included welding services, shipping, excavation and cement and dirt work.
“It’s been amazing how many people have pulled together,” said Pyne, who added some were called to give their talents and others simply showed up through word of mouth to help were they could.
“It’s so nice in a small town like this where you have all of these personal contacts,” said Kinahan.
Three fundraising auctions were held to raise nearly $80,000, according to Pyne, who added it was a major accomplishment to see the project through.
But now that it’s up, she said the benefits will be noticed for years to come.
“It’s not just benefiting our school but because of all the soccer that goes on there, it will benefit the community as well.”
Indeed, with soccer games played every night in the spring at the fields which surround St. Patrick’s, kids from all over town will use the playground equipment in the coming years.
And what Pyne is especially proud of is the fact anyone can use the new play structures.
“It is a barrier-free playground, so people with special needs can access the entire playground from one end to another.”
She explained the pour-and-play base makes it easy for wheelchairs to navigate the playground, and added it was, in fact, children with special needs at the school which prompted the need for a new playground in the first place.
“I believe it’s the only barrier-free playground in town.”
The base is a thick rubber substance, which not only makes the playground barrier free, but also very safe.
“It’s quite bouncy. The idea is if someone falls, they won’t get hurt,” said Kinahan, who added the surface did come at a cost. “That about doubles the cost of the whole thing.”
Aside from the fundraisers and the in-kind donations, Pyne and Kinahan added many local service clubs also donated to the cause.
In the end, it resulted in new playground structures which replaced two old sections of equipment, and some old tire swings.