BLOOMINGTON - Steffan Falls, 11, circled the construction site at Bent Elementary School on his bicycle all summer, but he still missed out on his dream. | Photo gallery

Falls said he and his friends watched the construction of the new playground and wanted to be the first to play there.

"We didn't get to be," he said, but the fifth-grader got another privilege Friday.

He stood up and spoke for all students at the official opening of the new playground, which took more than two years to build and cost about $50,000.

Falls was chosen to be front and center to thank the Bent Parent Teacher Organization, Bloomington District 87 school district and the city staff for the gift of play.

"We appreciate the hard work and effort to make this playground," he said.

"We love it," he said to officials, students, school staff and parents gathered outdoors for an opening ceremony that included lively introductory and send-off music.

The fifth-grader was among students and officials who cut the long, colorful ribbons tied around the playground's four different kinds of monkey bars, a rock climbing wall and a colorful, modern jungle gym.

"It's much more versatile now for kindergarten to fifth grade," said Debra Morey, vice president of the PTO.

Students voted for the equipment they wanted to play on, and they helped moved around the mulch, Morey said.

"The kids are so proud of it," said Angela Kininmonth, president of the PTO.

The school waited an extra year for grants to get the playground installed, but it was worth waiting for, she said.

"It's so beautiful," she added.

State Farm Insurance Cos. donated the mulch, which cost about $5,000, she said.

While the community helped build the Washington Elementary School playground in May 2006, Bent parents and children didn't build the playground. For safety and insurance reasons, contractors did the job, Kinnimonth said.

"I know it sounds lazy, but the only thing the parents (and kids) did was spread the mulch," she said.

They may have been tired anyway from the array of fundraisers they held over the last couple of years, including sponsoring a spring carnival and selling chocolates, wrapping paper and friendship snowflakes.

Kininmonth said it was fun to follow the playground construction progress.

"I live a block away and got to see it every day," she said.

Her daughters, Lily and Emma Jillian, and other children, including Steffan, tested the playground before its official opening.

School Principal Debbie Armendairz told students there are three ways they can say "thank you" and honor the gifts: "Enjoy it, respect it, and respect each other when you play there," she said.