Playground committee continues fundraising effort
by Lindsay Hoeppner · November 04, 2009 Outdated and inadequate.
According to Claire LeMay, those are the perfect words to describe the playground equipment at West Liberty Elementary School.
“Some of that stuff has been there since I went to school there,” she said.
LeMay, who first became involved with the elementary playground project about a year and a half ago, said at the time, the West Liberty Community School District Parent Teacher Organization was looking at different vendors to supply new equipment that would accommodate the building switch from third-eighth-graders to first-fifth-graders.
It was soon discovered, however, that it was a much larger project that the PTO was willing to take on.
What’s more, the start of the 2009-10 school year was quickly approaching and something had yet to be done.
“It’s not like there has to be stuff there, but kids have to play, and there has to be something adequate for them to play on,” LeMay said.
As a result, the PTO, West Liberty School Foundation, elementary school principal Nancy Gardner, Early Learning Center director Lisa Stevenson and superintendent Bob Mata met to see what needed to be done, how that would be accomplished and what could wait.
“Initially, the way we wanted to structure the playground was going to cost $200,000-$250,000,” LeMay said. “That started scaring people away.”
Fundraising efforts
Gardner and LeMay formed a committee and began approaching various groups and community members about fundraising.
The committee received a $30,000 grant for the proposed project, and the effort continued.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, the playground committee will be hosting a family fun night at the West Liberty Community Center.
The effort, which will kick off at 6 p.m., will feature a karaoke contest, 50/50 raffle and door prizes. Admission is $2, and prizes in age categories will be awarded for the best performance.
The committee will also be hosting a fun meal fundraiser at the middle school during the Holiday Open House on Sunday, Nov. 22, and the Rotary Club of West Liberty has committed to hold an event in May. Community members interested in helping with the fundraising efforts can contact LeMay at (319) 430-0633 or clemay@wl.k12.ia.us.
What’s next
LeMay said the actual playground structure will cost the committee $46,648. An additional $4,000 fee for a certified installer from the vendor — Outdoor Recreation Products of Elkhorn, Neb. — will also be needed, as will $28,307 for surfacing and $20,992 for concrete side preparation work. LeMay is also anticipating that $10,000 in expenses, including food, safety equipment, tools, T-shirts and advertising will have needed to be raised by the build date, which is set for June 6.
“We’d like to have a community build, where people from the town can come down that day and volunteer,” LeMay said.
In the meantime, the committee has set a deadline of Jan. 15 as a goal to raise at least 80 percent of the needed funds.
“We’re at about 65 percent right now,” LeMay said. “We’re just trying to get to that Jan. 15 deadline.” |
