New Northwoods Elementary playgound is a project of toil, fun

When Northwoods Elementary’s 23 students returned to classes last month, they had three new sets of playground equipment to climb on during recess.

“They’re having a good time,” Loretta Clayburn said last week after watching the children giggle and laugh while contorting their bodies to reach bars and perches in the new equipment.

Clayburn is the leader of Northwoods’ Home and School Association, which raised $14,480 for the playground. Her two children, fifth-grader Tyler and seventh-grader Jolene, are students at the K-8 school.

Fundraising for the project began last winter, when a food fair raised almost $3,000. The fair was sponsored with help from students at Maplewood Academy and members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which is associated with both schools. A few weeks later, a garage sale brought in several hundred dollars. Then, donations came in from Northwoods alumni, and church members.

More money was raised when older Northwoods students raked yards and donated the proceeds. “I really wanted this playground to go in while they’re still here,” Clayburn said. “I just wanted them to have a sense of fulfillment. For them to have this is really exciting.”

For the full story and photos, see the Sept. 2 print edition of the Leader.

(Doug Hanneman is editor of the Hutchinson Leader. He may be reached at hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com)