Despite their best efforts to raise enough funds for the new Terrace Ridge School playground, the Terrace Ridge Playground Society has come up short of just $8,000.
After three years of fundraising, totaling an amount of $160,000, the Playground Society is still short, despite installation being scheduled for May 12th and 13th.
The Playground Society has had many school fundraisers, acquired many corporate donors and applied for grants which have provided the Society with the bulk of the funds needed to update the playground, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, according to Terrace Ridge Playground Society secretary Nadine Waterfield, they need some more monetary help.
“We did have to leave out a piece of equipment that we were really hoping to have, but just because it’s down to the wire and we’re relying on public donations to help with, for example, site preparation,” she said. “We had been under the impression that Wolf Creek would help with site preparation or the City of Lacombe but now neither will help us with that, so we’re just waiting on a business to donate.”
Waterfield said she believes the economy plays a factor into the reasons why it’s proving difficult to get financial backing from local businesses or companies.
Terrace Ridge will be moving forward with the installation with the money they have fundraised so far, adding the items that have been approved with their finances will inspire student exercise.
“On the south side of our playground, we’re going to add two climbing rocks and then a rope bridge (connected) because the idea these days is to get kids that round-about route so they don’t have to touch the ground and they can play touch tag or those kinds of things.”
The Society has still not calculated other expenses such as garbage bins, park benches and the signage for those in the community who contributed to the new playground, but those funds will be allocated as soon as the playground is established.
The new playground was brought forward a few years ago by the Society in hopes of creating a more accessible playground for both students and community members, and because, according to Waterfield, most school associations do not budget funds for playground updates.
“Being a parent and an active member of the community, I think playgrounds are that foundation for outdoor imaginative play and exercise which is something we’re really trying to instill in our kids when it’s so easy to get wrapped up in electronics, so we’re trying to keep things fun and exciting and have them enjoy their time outside.”
Anyone who is interested in contributing funds to this cause can contact Waterfield at the Playground Society at 587-877-0188. Cheques can be made out directly to Wolf Creek School Division in care of the Terrace Ridge Playground Society.
shelby.craig@lacombeexpress.com