GOODRICH-For many students, recess is quite possibly the highlight of the school day. Whether it’s swinging from the monkey bars, swishing down the slide, or playing kick-ball on the soft gravel, a child needs a break to use their imagination and to release some energy.
Lately parents and administrators have noticed the quality of the equipment on the playgrounds of both Reid and Oaktree Elementary could be improved. That’s why a group called the Playground Committee was started by parents and other volunteers to raise funds for improvements.
Although the group has 10-12 volunteer parents on the committee and both principals, the primary organizer is Joy Moll. She has twin sons at Reid Elementary, a daughter at Oaktree Elementary and volunteers in both their classrooms.
“I have family up north. At one of the schools they recently redid their playground and it looked beautiful. When we moved here last January, I noticed that Reid and Oaktree could use some of the same improvements.”
Moll introduced the idea to Kim Hart, Oaktree principal, who referred the project to the Parent-Teacher Organization.
“We would like to renovate and rebuild. We can’t completely get all new equipment for both schools because the cost is just too high. We just want to fill in piece by piece what needs to be replaced, said Hart. “We want to have structures that kids can actually get some exercise on, instead of just sitting around. It’s OK if they choose to relax, but we want to have more physical options for them.”
The group’s goal is to raise approximately $100,000 to use for both schools. The current state of most of the equipment is satisfactory, but they would like to have some things replaced with steel and metal structures due to safety and durability factors. Many pieces of the equipment are wooden and do not have as long of a life that a sturdier structure would.
Oaktree Elementary recently hosted a silent auction and raffle that raised more than $3,000 for the committee’s playground funds. Another fund-raiser called Basket Bingo took place at Reid Elementary on Wednesday, March 19 from 3:45 – 5 p.m. Parents were asked to donate jump ropes, pails and shovels, games and other toys that will be available to the children for the event. A $5 fee was collected from each child or parent and will go toward the committee’s funds.
“We would like to see most of the funds focused on Reid improvements because it needs the most work. Oaktree’s playground is only about 5 years old so we will replace what is needed,” said Moll.
The playground committee would like to replace the pea gravel at Reid with synthetic wood chips and improve the playground structures overall.
“This project is for the kids, that’s the whole reason it was started. We want them to have a nice playground and something that the community can use as well,” said Ken Rappuhn, Goodrich School Board member who has attended the previous playground committee meetings and supports the project. “I know that the fund-raisers, donations and auctions have really helped the committee’s funds.”
Anyone that would like to contribute may contact Oaktree Elementary at (810) 591-5200. Baby-sitting is available for the next meeting.