Salem moving ahead with new playground after years of fundraising

Salem Elementary students will have new playground equipment to enjoy by the spring of 2010.

It's taken several years and a lot of fundraising, but school officials are now in the process of putting out the tenders for two new play structures, one for the kindergarten area at the side of the school and one for the Grade 1-4 playground in behind the facility.

At a total cost of about $40,000 (plus the cost of ground work and pea gravel) for the two pieces of equipment, Salem principal Stephanie Prosser said the school's fundraising efforts was topped off this year with a $15,000 FYCAP (Family and Youth Capital Assistance Program) grant from the government.

The funds have been raised through a variety of initiatives, including the sale of specialty calendars, blue/green garbage bags, and the school's annual HARE (How About Reading Everyday) event. As well, several local businesses have pitched in to help including the Sackville Co-op Food Market and Vogue Cinema. A recent donation from the Audrey Tory Memorial Fund has also aided the efforts.

The new kindergarten playground structure - which will feature slides, climbing apparatus and interactive learning pieces - is a much-needed piece of equipment that will greatly enhance the recreational opportunities for the young five-and-six-year-olds.

The second structure will replace one that was removed from behind the school last year because of safety issues.

Prosser said the existing playground structure in the rear of the school can get quite busy at times with hundreds of kids trying to take a turn, particularly on rainy days when the back field is wet. So the new equipment will help ease that congestion, she said.