The Barrhead Elementary School (BES) Advisory Association is one step closer to meeting its goal of a new outdoor classroom and adventure playground for the school thanks to the Barrhead Elks Lodge.
On Tuesday, Nov. 20, the service organization gave the association $30,000 for the project.
The association, which is made up of parents who work with the school in an effort to improve the educational experience of their children, approached the Elks asking if they would be willing to contribute to their school playground/outdoor classroom project.
“We didn’t give them a figure, we just asked them to consider donating whatever they felt comfortable with, and when we found out how much they were going to give us, we were just overwhelmed,” said association vice president Leslie McEachern. “We really can’t thank them enough and we also want to extend our gratitude to everyone who has supported the project.”
Association chair Jennifer Danielson said they have been working towards replacing the aging playground since 2010, but it’s only been the last couple of years that they have really put the playground in the forefront of its fundraising efforts.
Since then the association has raised about $120,000 (including the Elk’s donation) in cash and in-kind services.
“Playgrounds are expensive,” she said. “The average playground with installation can easily reach the $200,000 mark.”
The playground and outdoor classroom will replace the school’s current wooden adventure playground located in front of the library, which will be relocated near the school’s basketball courts between the elementary school and Barrhead Composite High School.
In addition to their fundraising efforts, the association plans to take advantage of available government and private grants.
The association, with the help of the playground equipment company they are working with, have identified about 16 that they are eligible for.
If things go as planned, the association hopes to break ground on the new playground this summer with construction completed before the start of the 2019-2020 school year.
“A lot of it [timeline] will depend on when the grant funding comes through,” she said. “Currently we have applied for four of the grants, so we have about 12 more to go.”
Barrhead Elks president Bruce McLean said it wasn’t a hard decision for them to make.
“It’s a good cause. Kids are our new generation and we have to do our best to support them,” he said, adding it is also a pleasure to help an organization that appreciated the donation.
“They were just ecstatic when we told them we were going to help. Not only for the donation itself, but it also helps open the door to other funding opportunities for them,” McLean said. “The more money they raise helps them apply for more grants.”
