FOUNTAIN LAKE -- Four years of fundraising and dedication have resulted in an improved playground at Fountain Lake Elementary School.
Nine new play stations have been installed in the school's playground, funded by the Fountain Lake Parent Teacher Organization. Over the last four years, the PTO has held numerous fundraisers to pay for the new playground equipment, and raised $44,088 for the project.
To help raise the funds, the students participated with the PTO by selling cookie dough.
"I think it's awesome," PTO Treasurer Lyndsey Hardwood said about the updated playground at a ribbon cutting on Friday morning, held before the start of classes. She added that she is glad for the support that the school, students and the local community have shown to the project.
Hardwood said the reason the PTO decided to expand the playground was that it determined the project would be the biggest thing it could do with the funds that would affect the highest number of students.
While the PTO has been raising money for this project for four years, Principal Katie Curry said they didn't bring the idea to the school until November. By early January, the equipment was on site. Rainy weather caused a little delay to the installing of the equipment, but not by much.
"The school is very thankful for the PTO, they work tirelessly for their fundraisers," Curry said.
Another person who said they were pleased with the project was the director of instructional services, Stephen Campbell. "It's awesome," he said, thanking the PTO members for their "years of effort" to bring a "brand-new landscape" for the students to play on.
Fountain Lake School District Superintendent Michael Murphy was also in attendance for the ribbon cutting.
"It's an exciting time for our kids," Murphy said, adding he knows the students are excited to get to play on the new equipment.
Curry said while the ribbon cutting was held on Friday morning, the first day the students will get to play on the equipment will be on Jan. 22.
Local on 01/19/2019