Parents from Eric Langton Elementary built a new playground for the school with fundraising money, a grant from Meadow Ridge Rotary, and money from the Ministry of Education.

The parent advisory council raised money for several years for the playground with a variety of events from bake sales to plant sales to replace the playground east of the school that has been targeted by vandals.

The total cost of the playground was $115,000. Meadow Ridge Rotary donated $35,000, the Ministry of Education kicked in another $50,000, and parents raised about $30,000.

On Sept. 28, about 60 parent volunteers showed up to build the accessible playground.

"It's not just a school playground," said Eric Langton principal Jon Wheatley. "It's a community playground."

The new playground includes some sensory items like bells, and a disc swing that can accommodate children with physical disabilities.

"[The students] love it - it's an absolute hit," Wheatley said of the new playground, adding that the school has to limit who can go on it at what time, "otherwise, we'd have 400 kids" on it.

"A lot of planning goes into pulling off a construction project of this size in one day," Wheatley said. "The sheer number of volunteers willing to give their time and skills show what a wonderful school community we have."

mrantanen@mrtimes.com