By Martha Aitkin, Bruce Peninsula Press
Fundraising for the new playground at St. Edmunds Public School in Tobermory got off to a great start on Saturday April 26th. Over 150 plates of spaghetti were served up by the many volunteers in the kitchen at the Community Centre for the Community Spaghetti Dinner. There were even home deliveries of meals to some of Tobermory’s older residents.
Between ticket sales and donations approximately $2,500.00 was raised. It was wonderful to see and hear and feel the energy of the children who enjoyed running and dancing and laughing with each other in between occasional bites of spaghetti! It was also grand to wander around the crowded Community Centre and see so many friends and neighbours enjoying lively conversation along with a great meal.
Plans for the playground are underway – more details will be announced soon. A typical school playground for Kindergarten to Grade 3 children will include swings, slides, climbing walls, jungle gyms, monkey bars, spring riders such as rocking horses, sensory panels, tunnels and playhouses. Modern playgrounds must have protective surfacing such as wood chips, mulch or rubber mats extending at least 6 feet in all directions from play equipment.
With a goal of raising $90,000 in order to build this new playground, we can be sure that the fundraising efforts will continue for awhile. Some of the funding will likely come from grants as grant applications become available and are submitted.
The parents, teachers, volunteers, and especially the children of Tobermory who will enjoy the new playground, are grateful for all of the community support of their events and other efforts to raise the needed funds.
