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NAPPANEE – With students surrounding the new playground and chanting “Cut it!”, Nappanee Elementary School held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening of its new playground Monday.
Nappanee Elementary School Principal Randy Cripe said work started in September with demolishing the old playground. In late September or early October, Commercial Recreation Group started construction on the new playground.
Students play at the new playground at Nappanee Elementary School Monday. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-UnionIn total, the projectcost $465,000. The school saved up money for three years for the project, as well as receiving money from three different sources. The school received grants from Community Foundation of Elkhart County in the amount of $50,000 and AWS for $25,000. The school’s Parent-Teacher Organization also gave $30,000 toward the new playground.
The old playground was built in 1992 and has served its time, Cripe said. It will service 375 students from kindergarten to fifth grade.
The upgraded playground now includes benches, which the old playground did not have. New surfacing for the playground will also be more accommodating to things like wheelchairs, he said.
Cripe said the playground will be open to the community and members of the Boys and Girls Club next to the school will be able to use it after school.
