DEDICATION

On Monday morning, about two dozen area business and community leaders gathered at the Rib Lake Elementary School to dedicate and officially open a new playground area.

The school’s old playground equipment was showing its age after years of use by the district’s school children. Over a year ago, efforts got underway to replace the equipment and in the process, upgrade the base to a poured in place rubberized surface that improves student safety and makes the playground accessible for all students.

Rib Lake District administrator Travis Grubbs said they wanted to make it so that all students, regardless of physical ability, could play with all the other students.

Grubbs was a major promoter of the project. He noted that when he started he thought it would cost about $70,000, but quickly found it would be much more. Through grants, business donations and individual support, the school district raised $230,000 to complete the project including donations from the elementary school students themselves through a fundraising drive in the school.

Grubbs read through the complete list of donors for the project highlighting major donations from Fulcrum Foundation, Marathon Cheese Corporation, Sierra Pacific, Rib Lake Lions Club and Forward Bank among many other contributors. Randy Thums was recognized for the site work and excavating for the playset.

Following his remarks, Grubbs cut the ribbon to officially open the playground and invited the elementary school students to play on the equipment.

Story by Brian Wilson Layout by Janna Rhae Johnson