Ledger-Dispatch

By Bethany A. Monk (bmonk@ledger-dispatch.com) =

Pine Grove Elementary students enjoy = their new=20 play structure installed during the winter break. The school's We = Are For=20 Kids Association helped raise about $60,000 to purchase the new=20 structure.

Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger=20 Dispatch
Until recently, the = playground equipment=20 at Pine Grove Elementary School was old and run-down - and in some of = the cracks=20 and crevices, yellow jacket wasps had made nests, according to Melissa = Case,=20 vice president of the We Are For Kids Association.

The group, = referred to=20 as WAFCA, decided two-and-a-half years ago to begin a fund-raising = crusade to=20 replace the school's outdated playground equipment with a new play = structure for=20 the children, Case said. During the winter break, the new structure was=20 installed and has been a hit ever since.

"The kids are extremely=20 excited," Case said. "The first day they came back (from break), it was = like=20 bees on honey. They're all smiles when they're playing on = it."

The group,=20 made up of parents and other concerned citizens, began holding various=20 fund-raisers, such as a wine tasting event and other events. "We also = had a lot=20 of support from the community," Case said.

Amador County = businesses, and=20 individuals, in fact, donated a total of $21,000 toward the project. = These=20 donors include the Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel and Conference = Center, the=20 Amador Community Foundation, El Dorado Savings Bank and county = supervisors Louis=20 Boitano, District 4, and Brian Oneto, District 5.

WAFCA members, = and=20 other concerned parents, children and school staff members raised = $39,000, Case=20 said. "We're so proud of this," she added. "It's such a huge = accomplishment for=20 such a small community. We see those kids' faces and it makes it all = worth it=20 now."

"It's so much better," Case's son Brett, a sixth-grader at = the=20 school, said of the new play structure. "The old one was just falling = apart."=20 When asked about his favorite part of the new structure, he mentioned = the=20 firefighter's pole.

His younger brother, Alex, 10, said that, = although he=20 misses the swings from the old play structure, "the (new) slide is = pretty good.=20 There's a lot of good things on it," the fourth-grader said. =

There are=20 also some "cars" on the structure "for people who like to pretend = they're=20 driving cars." The cars have gear shifters and everything, he = said.

WAFCA=20 president Bobbi Clinkenbeard said the new structure is quite popular = with the=20 students. It's good for them to have a safe, engaging play structure = during=20 their recesses.

"It helps get their energy out so they can pay = attention=20 when they're in class," Clinkenbeard said. Her son, Cade, a first-grader = at the=20 school, loves it. "They all do," she said.

"It's so good to see = it on=20 the kids' faces," Case said. "We couldn't have done this without all the = support=20 from the community."

WAFCA purchased the new play structure from = Rose=20 Recreation Equipment Company for $48,000, Case said; installation cost = about=20 $9,000.

Other WAFCA board members include Carolyn Stewart and = Debbi=20 Brodie. Michelle Opalenik, a former board member, was also instrumental = in the=20 project's success, Case said.

Bethany A. = Monk