Friday, there was a special delivery at Pearl River Central Upper Elementary School in McNeill that it is bound to put smiles on the faces of returning students.
Planet Recess, a distributor of recreational products, delivered the equipment needed to construct a new playground on the school’s PE field.
Last fall, Pearl River Central High School science teacher Stephanie Morris applied for a $15,000 KaBOOM! grant.
According to a Let’s Play release, KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the daily lives of children with active play. Since, 1996, the non-profit has opened or improved almost 16,000 playgrounds.
This school year, about 800 students at the upper elementary will reap the benefits of a new playground.
Morris said she was inspired to apply for the grant because play has such an important impact on a student’s physical and academic development.
“I also have children who attend school in this district and a playground like this is something that will last for generations,” Morris said.
In addition to Morris, many other district employees helped write the grant, including Business Administrator T.J. Burleson, Curriculum Director Kim Alford, PRCUE Principal Darlene Hall, PRCUE Vice-Principals Dr. Diana Sweigart and Vol White.
The $15,000 Let’s Play Construction grant was awarded by Dr. Pepper Snapple and KaBOOM!, the release states. Let’s Play is a community partnership led by Dr. Pepper Snapple to encourage children and families to be active.
According to the release, “unstructured, child-directed play has proven to help kids develop physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually.”
The total cost for the playground is about $50,000, Burleson said. The PRCUE PTO also contributed $6,000 to the playground and International Paper in Bogalusa donated $1,500. The remaining cost was funded by the school district.
Burleson said the playground will feature slides, a rock climbing wall and six swings. The playground is also ADA accessible.
Friday morning, members of Pearl River Central High School’s NJROTC helped unload the equipment and carry it to the field.
Former PRCUE teacher Janie Richard also donated the use of heavy equipment.
“The children and the school need it,” Richard said. “My children went here and I taught here and I felt the need to give back. This is what communities are supposed to do.”
Hall said she is excited the school will have a new playground.
“The former playground was smaller, limited and had drainage issues,” Hall said. “We have a new environment for our students to play and engage in multiple activities.”
Today, beginning at 7 a.m., school officials, parents, NJROTC members, football players and cheerleaders will begin putting together the pieces of the new playground.
“We are inviting anyone that wants to volunteer to come help assemble,” Morris said. “However, volunteers have to be 16 and older.”
Lunch will also be provided, Alford said.
Learn more about Let’s Play, Dr. Pepper Snapple and KaBOOM! at www.letsplay.com, www.drpeppersnapple.com and www.kaboom.com.