KINKORA - Five years and $150,000 later, Somerset Elementary's playground has been transformed into a place where any child would be thrilled to run and play.
It's thanks to the efforts of a group of parents that rallied the community to put money towards building a better place to play for Kinkora's children.
This week the last pieces of equipment - elaborate monkey bars and a huge play centre - are being installed. It's a far cry from what was in place in 2006.
"Basically, the structure was falling apart," recalled Patricia McKenna. "It had pressure-treated wood, which is no longer allowed. The slide was deemed unsafe. We had 200 children competing for that one piece of equipment."
McKenna, Kelli Mulligan, Karen Mayne Mullins and Karen Duffy, all frustrated with the deteriorating state of playground, took matters into their own hands. That's when the Friends of Somerset Community Playground was born.
During initial meetings, a $50,000 goal was set.
"To be totally honest I thought this is going to take forever," said Mulligan, laughing. "I think the vision was that we wanted to make it a community playground, a school playground and it be all inclusive for all the kids."
The first fundraiser was the sale of energy-efficient light bulbs at $3 each.
"We knew we would have to sell a lot of those," joked Mulligan.
The local seniors group was one of the first groups to step up, donating $500. The Community of Kinkora quickly came on board, pledging $10,000.
"We've been overwhelmed by the community's support, not only by the local residents but people who used to live here, people that went to school here, local businesses," said Mulligan. "We had a major fundraiser that included an auction and a dinner and some of the businesses were so generous that they contributed to us on a three-year basis."
A total of eight pieces of equipment were purchased, including a miniature bus, monkey bars, elaborate play centres with features like climbing walls and rope ladders, swings and a smaller climbing centre for young children.
The last piece - a camel back monkey bar set - is now waiting to be installed.
"I don't think we ever really envisioned this," said Mayne Mullins. "I never dreamt that we would have this much."
The group has purchased more than just playground equipment.
"We've also bought gym equipment, sleds, basketballs, volleyballs. It was providing the physical activity component, not just giving them a place to play but things to play with," added McKenna. "What we really wanted was when the children came out at lunchtime or recess that every child would have an opportunity to do something that suited their particular wants or needs."
Most pieces were specifically designed with those needs in mind, with the group working with Canadian manufacturer Henderson Recreation.
"We needed something for the older kids. They were always kind of forgotten," said McKenna, adding the blue and white piece was designed with those children in mind. "You'll not find another one exactly the same as this anywhere."
Flowerbeds were also planted, landscaping done, benches erected and more than 300 trees planted with a portion of the contributions.
A donor wall recognizes those who made contributions more than $250.
The playground has become a meeting place for the entire community - a place where birthday parties and barbecues are regularly held.
"There's not an evening or day that goes by that there are not cars in the playground," said Mulligan. "It's open and inviting and it's great to see people here using it even when school isn't in session."
McKenna added, "It's a gathering place. It's more than just a school playground."
So, what do the critics - the children at Somerset - think of the playground?
"It's exciting to get new pieces," said Grade 7 student Olivia Mullins.
Her brother, Spencer, added, "It's a lot better than the first one."
But it was Grade 4 student Ethan Lawless who described it best.
"It's really fun and exciting to have the new playground. I come here and play with my friends all the time."