Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsSaturday, September 1, 2007 4:13 PM CDT
Comments Comments (8) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Fairview Elementary dedicates new playground
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com
Advertisement

NORMAL -- Fourth grader Joharri Weatherspoon climbed onto the new playground equipment at Fairview Elementary School for the first time Thursday morning, culminating a grassroots effort by the school that lasted three years.

Like many of the other students, Weatherspoon and his family were part of the long effort to raise money to buy the new equipment.

So it was fitting that Weatherspoon and his classmates were on hand to enjoy the fruits of the $16,000 fund-raising effort following an outdoor assembly to officially dedicate the playground.

Principal James Shaw said that many people worked diligently and hard to get the playground in place for the children of Fairview, and “that day has arrived,” Shaw said.

“We just have to thank, thank, thank,” he told the students assembled outside. They applauded loudly for the donors.

Among those he thanked were former Unit 5 school board member Rick Percy, current school board members and the Town of Normal.

Some kids who helped raise money, now junior high school students, returned to their grade school to be part of the festivities and to accept appreciation from current students.

The school needed a new playground because the old one was becoming unsafe, said Darrell Reeps, chairman of the parent-teacher organization who led the effort for the new playground.

Reeps, a parent, said the fundraising included lots of coin donations into big jars and gathering money at every single Fairview school event.

“It’s a huge feat for this school,” Reeps said, noting that Fairview serves a lower-income area of Normal.

Eight Normal Parks and Recreation workers supplied the labor to install the equipment. The department also donated and installed the groundcover.

“They enjoy putting up playgrounds,” said Garry Little, Normal Parks and Recreation director. He estimates the value of his staff’s labor at about $4,000 and the safe groundcover at about $2,000.

“You have no idea how good it feels to have this in place,” said Tony Ferrara, a parent who had a key role in fundraising.

Ferrara told the crowd that the new equipment isn’t the end of the effort to improve the playground.

During the construction, crews discovered the swings were no longer safe and they also had to be removed, leaving a bare patch of ground beside the new equipment.

He estimates that it will take another $5,000 to $10,000 to get a new swing set.

“We are still open to donations,” Ferrara said.

Take a look
Fairview Elementary School students, including Alanah Hafen, 9, have something to celebrate this new school year. The new playground equipment has taken months and months of fundraising and installation by parents, students, teachers and community leaders. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK)
Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 8 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

To Just a Guy wrote on Sep 1, 2007 2:58 PM:

" They don't meet code. Maybe you should take a trip to see some of them. Check out Glenn School and a few others that are on their own to raise the money. We are talking $20,000 + Don't congratulate Unit 5, they had little to do with raising the money. I won't "get over" the pools because I do not feel they are neccessary, especially when there are schools in Unit 5 like Brigham that are over-populated and do not have enough teachers, assistants, classrooms and ESL programs for the students. Pools are NOT a necessity however, having enough teachers and teaching supplies are...so don't tell me to get over the pools. "

Just A Guy wrote on Sep 1, 2007 12:12 PM:

" To: "The shame of it is". How are the playgrounds unsafe? "

teamwork wrote on Sep 1, 2007 7:14 AM:

" Great teamwork, Fairview and the Town of Normal! "

money wrote on Aug 31, 2007 11:43 PM:

" Hopefully, some of the east side parents will donate money to Fairview to finish the swing project. The new schools have beautiful playgrounds. Let' share the wealth. Congratulations to the Fairview families for such hard work. "

three cheers wrote on Aug 31, 2007 11:39 PM:

" I am so happy for Fairview. The children deserve nice equipment. It is great to see the older schools getting attention instead of the focus on building new schools with everthing they could want. It is just too bad the school had to raise the money themselves. I hope the school board has been watching District 87 restore their buildings to keep them current. The board needs to make a commitment to the older buildings. "

Oh my goodness.... wrote on Aug 31, 2007 4:56 PM:

" when will you people get over the pools???? It's going to take a student who had swimming and water safety classes in unit 5 to save someone else for people to finally shut up about the pools. ARGH! "

former student wrote on Aug 31, 2007 4:15 PM:

" Bravo Unit 5! I went to Fairview in the 80's when the old metal playground was moved to the far side of the blacktop and the "new" equipment was installed closer to the school building. Congrats on this great strive for safety!!! Fairview "

The Shame of it is wrote on Aug 31, 2007 3:58 PM:

" That the schools have to raise money outside of the school district to get this done but the school district will put in swimming pools at the highschools.....the playgrounds are UNSAFE...this should be Unit 5's responsibility, not the PTO's or other organizations. Shame on you!!! GREAT WORK to those who helped to contribute. All the students and faculty and families who worked hard deserve a standing ovation for their dedication for this cause...kids in elementary schools need safe playground equipment!!! "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy