Chad Pike, 5, will hopefully remember the hard work he did painting his school’s new playground.
Children, teachers, parents and area volunteers helped piece together new playground equipment for Southwood Elementary School Saturday during its Extreme Playground Makeover.
“He goes to school here and he wanted to come out and help,” said Chad’s father Everett Pike about his son, who wisped through the playground with a patch of yellow paint smothered in his dark hair. “It’ll be here the next five or six years (and) he’ll be able to say he helped do this.”
Nearly two years ago, Southwood PTA presidents Bert and Joy Waters decided to start the project because the school was in need of updated equipment. They said the students gave their input during the planning process and held fundraisers for the $35,000 makeover, including a Family Fun Day and two Harvest Festivals.
In a yard adjacent to Southwood, the playground equipment was worn out, having only one jungle gym set for children.
Saturday, volunteers painted the old bars and benches, while brand new pieces were assembled. The construction was overseen by the Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department.
“The Southwood community has always been a strong and tight-knit community,” said Bill Ellis, Parks and Recreation director. “They always work hard to do stuff for children, so we appreciate them.”
He said the playground — constructed by nearly two dozen volunteers — will be ready for school and public use in a week.
“I think it will be a big asset to the community,” Bret Waters said. “All the money was raised in house by the students and volunteers.”
His 9-year-old son Berton and classmate Ashton Heath, 9, helped paint the older equipment, coming out as early at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
“We have been working together over here,” Heath said about teamwork. “My favorite part was when I was first starting because it was lot easier (to work) on the seesaws.”
Southwood physical education teacher Janet Kennedy has been on staff more than two decades and said it’s one of the major playground improvements since she started working there.
“We tried to get a little piece year to year,” she said. “This is wonderful. The kids are going to love it.”
Joy Waters said the kids worked hard to make the project come to life.
“They knew what the outcome was going to be, and it’s finally here,” she said.
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.