Community raised $105,000 to complete second phase

A8

MARY-ELLEN SAUNDERS
KV STYLE

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Noel Chenier photo

Paula Nicholson and her children Emily, left, and Laura stand in front of Lakefield Elementary School's baseball field, which will be upgraded as part of the next phase.

As soon as the recess bell rings at Lakefield Elementary School kids are lining up for a chance to climb on the new playground equipment, says Paula Nicholson.
Nicholson, chair of the school’s playground committee, said over the summer the playground was upgraded by adding two new pieces of equipment and restructuring the area to make it flatter and dryer.
“It’s gratifying to see the project come to completion and see the children enjoying it as much as they are,” said Nicholson. “It’s gratifying to see so many kids having fun on a project that so many people helped to create whether through fundraising or being on the committee, or an area business that donated.”
Nicholson said thanks to the community, which raised $105,000, the second phase of a three-phase playground upgrade is almost completed.
The committee chair said the playground had a drainage issue causing it to become very muddy at times. To create a dryer surface she said all of the equipment was removed and the ground was dug 12 inches down and filled with pea gravel.
“The reason there are 12 inches of pea gravels is it is supposed to help absorb the impact if a child falls,” Nicholson said.
She said the new equipment meets all safety requirements.
In September, when the ground was ready, two new pieces of equipment were installed.
Nicholson said Mount Everest is a climbing structure that looks like an upside down V. Children can climb up one side and down the other. The second piece is called the Double Meteor and it is also a climbing structure. She said two gigantic domes are connected by a bridge.
“They seem to love the Double Meteor,” she said. “It’s quite a popular unit. The kids all have to run as fast as they can to get there so they can have their turn at recess.”
Nicholson said the committee is about $30,000 short of completing the second phase.
She said two more pieces of equipment and two retaining walls need to be built.
She said the committee will be raising money throughout the year and expects to have it completed by next September.
The first phase was completed two years ago and consisted of new basketball courts and an amphitheatre for a cost of approximately $100,000.
The final phase of the project is a $70,000 upgrade to the baseball field.
“It’s a drainage issue,” Nicholson said. “The field needs to be rebuilt because it is sometimes unusable for sports teams because it is so wet.”
Nicholson said for the third phase the committee is going to apply for grants from provincial and federal organizations.
“We would be two or three years raising the money,” Nicholson said. “I think we need to look at some other options. It’s also a community field. It is not just used by the school so we think it’s a good phase to try to apply for grants that will move the project faster along.”