Stowsentry.com - Highland seeks playground equipment upgrade

by Tess Wolfe

Reporter

Stow -- Most things wear out, sooner or later. Playground equipment is no exception.

To replace outdated and, in some cases, unsafe older equipment on the playground, community members have been raising funds for Highland Elementary School since the 2005-06 school year, Principal Meghan Graziano said.

For the first time since 1991, new equipment will be installed on the playground May 31. Playground fundraisers paid for the $17,000 piece, said Graziano, adding no school funds will be used toward playground equipment.

The colorful new playground piece has several slides and climbing areas and is 50 feet long by 40 feet wide, she added.

"We had to take out some of the tires and timber of older playground equipment to make sure [the current playground equipment was safe for use]," Graziano said. "We also had to take out two slides because they were broken. We've tried to clear things out to avoid any safety issue."

She said such monitoring has prevented injuries to students.

The goal for the first phase of the playground project, the purchase of new equipment, is to raise $50,000, Graziano said. The second phase will include pouring concrete and adding groundcover.

"Now that we've bought a piece of playground equipment, our funds are back down to zero [dollars]," said Martha Peterson, Highland kindergarten teacher. "The high cost of school playground equipment is due to the strict safety standards that have been set by various agencies."

Peterson is the liaison between the playground committee and chairpersons organizing "Party for the Playground," an upcoming silent auction and raffle.

Hosted by the Highland Elementary School PTA and the playground committee, Party for the Playground will take place May 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Heritage Barn in Silver Springs Park, at 5238 Young Road in Stow.

Admission to the adults-only event is $5 at the door. Desserts and beverages are included in the cost of admission.

"The students have watched pieces of equipment being take down and removed -- they've watched their playground getting smaller and smaller," Peterson said. "Last winter, kids were throwing their mittens against the wall for entertainment. [The fundraiser] is important for the kids."

The school so far has received more than 100 donated items for the silent auction and raffle. Students throughout the school have participated in creating items for donation, Graziano said.

Student-donated items include a lap desk, serving platter, chair, chest and bookshelf -- all decorated by students. Student councilmembers baked dog biscuits to donate to the raffle and silent auction.

Teachers, staff, students' parents, community members and business organizations also have donated items, said Peterson.

"We've had a lot of support," she said. "It's exciting to have this equipment installed."

For more information, call co-chairs Marcel Heid at 330-929-2393 or Darlene Skowrons at 330-983-5020.

E-mail: twolfe@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3916