The Medford school district is soliciting donations for a new playground at Cranberry Pines Elementary School.
During the movie night to be held on Dec. 9 the school will be accepting donations, which will go directly to the construction of the playground.
Medford Superintendent of Schools Joseph Del Rossi said there are five separate committees working on the project right now and that they are in various stages of development.
The committees include grant writing, fundraising, planning, construction, and movie night.
“Each committee consists of community volunteers who are dedicated to building a playground that is safe and best represents the vision of our school community,” Del Rossi said.
“Our teachers deliver top-notch programs that are funded through the building level budgets,” he said. “Unfortunately, the building budget does not cover the school grounds.
“We have 380 students using the playground on a daily basis,” Del Rossi added. “And the few remaining pieces of equipment leave a lot to be desired.”
Permission was granted by Del Rossi and the Home and School Association to allow Cranberry Pines School to hold a fundraiser that would directly benefit students.
Nancy Hutchinson’s daughter, Faith, is in second grade at Cranberry Pines.
She said the school is looking to build the new playground for children because the current equipment is possibly original equipment from the 1970s. Cranberry Pines School opened in 1979.
Hutchinson said the school has already ripped out as much as 80 percent of the old equipment because it is unsafe.
“We need all the help we can get,” she said, noting the hard times people are facing economically. “We’re looking for assistance in any way.”
Hutchinson said the plan is to start small and add items to the new playground every year.
Hutchinson and others have visited playgrounds in the area where they’ve seen new and safe equipment.
“It looks like we need that,” she said.
Principal Lucas Coesfeld, who is spearheading the effort, sent out a survey for parents and students asking for wish lists.
“He’s taking into consideration the budget and the desires of parents and students,” Hutchinson said, adding she is not sure of the cost.
“This is something that it is only going to benefit our children now but in the future,” she added. “It’s important for the kids to play and exercise and be safe and enjoy their activity time.”
Faith, Hutchinson’s daughter, is 7 years old.
“I think that it’s probably going to be better than the first one,” she said, regarding the new playground. “I like the dome and the swings and slides.”
Faith, who likes to play soccer and climb, said the dome in the current playground was removed because it was dangerous.
