Ward students enjoy fruits of volunteer labors

Once again, the McCook community has risen to the occasion, contributing the money and manpower necessary to install new playground equipment at the community's three public grade schools: East Ward, North Ward and Central Elementary.

"Another donation came in (Tuesday), putting the PTO over the top in the fund-raising campaign," said Kathy Latta, the principal at the East and North elementary schools.

All together, $35,000 was raised, providing enough money to cover the $29,000 price of purchasing the equipment and the $6,000 necessary for installation. Even though the equipment has arrived and is in place, it is not in use yet. That much awaited occasion is expected to occur next week following a safety inspection.

Once that takes place, the students will be doing what elementary pupils have been doing for generations. They will be taking turns. "We will schedule times so that each class has an opportunity to try out the new equipment," Mrs. Latta said.

The new equipment is a vivid contrast to the old playground equipment, some of which has been around for more than 40 years. For the most part, the traditional equipment consists of swings, teeter-totters and monkey bars, the principal said.

The new era of playground equipment provides a colorful contrast, with primary colors -- reds, yellows and blues -- combining with greens and grays for a bright new look. At Central, a new eight-swing set is in place along with a net climber, which features chain links covered with soft rubber tubing.

At East and North, the featured attractions are decks, climbers and slides, enhanced with tic-tac-toe spaces and magic mini panels.

Kim Johnson, a second grade teacher at East Ward, spearheaded the campaign, which began in January and steadily progressed through the winter, spring and summer months. A major turning point came when the McCook Volunteer Fire Department, which was disbanding, contributed $15,000. That gift, combined with generous donations from McCook's banks, kicked the campaign into high gear.

The other essential ingredient was the support of the community, with gifts ranging from $5 to $500 helping push the drive over the top. Then, as the finishing touch, a North Ward dad, Roger Siebrandt, prepared the playground sites for installation, along with the help of NPPD, McCook Contracting and Maris Construction. Holiday Inn Express also donated lodging for the professional playground installer and MPPD donated used crossbars for North Ward.

From start to finish, the project took 10 months. Done without tax dollars using volunteer donations and labor, the brightly colored, functional playground equipment shows what can be accomplished when caring citizens join together for community improvement.