New playground in Rapid City
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, July 14, 2015
By Sheila Runions
Banner Staff
In spring 2012 Rolling River School Division (RRSD) sent a letter to Rapid City announcing the school’s playground equipment was inspected and that replacement would be necessary. The treated lumber wooden structures were installed in 1995 and after nearly 20 years, was nearing its life expectancy.
Rapid City Parent Group formed a subcommittee to deal with the playground project and Ryan Nevin agreed to serve as co-ordinator. He says, “This was tough to hear as the old play structure had been well planned-out and constructed, and was very well-used and loved within the community, but as with all things, sometimes change is required. The Parent Group met and a committee was set up to begin the process of researching play structure manufacturers and then raising the required funds to proceed. During this process we narrowed our choices down to three possible suppliers and the decision was made to go with Playgrounds R Us from Winnipeg, who came very highly-recommended by anyone we talked to who used them.”
Part of their decision to deal with Winnipeg was that the company not only sells the equipment, they also service it if maintenance is required, though it is expected no work will be needed for quite some time.
The committee actively fundraised for more than two years to reach their goal of $90,000. With the money in hand this spring, they surpassed their goal to begin replacement this summer. Instead of starting the replacement work this month, they have a brand new playground completely finished and officially opened on the second-last day of school, Friday, June 24.
“Our structure was built June 18 and 19. The build went smoothly with Matt Lacroix and his assistant Mike from Playgrounds R Us, providing a supervised install. RRSD already had the site prepared for us, including the majority of the border, and sent their maintenance staff out to assist with the build. Jim Borley of Rapid City who works for Ag West Ltd. (formerly Toromont Ag) also volunteered to help the parent group with the build. Mazer Group in Brandon donated the use of a New Holland skid steer for a week during the build process — it was used for the site preparation to the final wood chip fall protection material, and was a very-much-appreciated and -used piece of equipment!
“On Thursday, June 18 the base structure was laid out and most of the holes drilled; the first couple of components were assembled by noon with the remaining holes and major components ready for concrete late that afternoon. By 6 p.m. the site was fenced off for the night to let the concrete set. On the Friday the 19th most other components were attached, such as railings and side panels, then the wood chips were placed and the border closed off. Monday the 22nd we came back and attached the final components (that needed more time for the concrete to set) and finished off the landscaping around the border and the play structure was up and running!”
Although their initial goal was $90,000, with so much volunteered time and equipment, the Parent Group only needed to raised $75,000. The 24-piece project cost nearly $95,000; equipment includes two slides, a climbing wall, boogie board, spinners, two diggers, monkey bars, fireman’s pole, balance pods, etc.
