Penngrove Pitches in for Kids Volunteers Erect School Jungle Gym:

From The Press Democrat, December 10, 1997
by Janet Holman Parmer

The weather gave a group if Penngrove parents and community volunteers a break Saturday.

An imminent storm held off long enough for workers to slog through mud to assemble an elaborate play structure in a back corner of the field at Penngrove Elementary School. Organizers were prepared, they said, to press on rain or shine.

It was a grassroots effort by parents with assistance from Tom Blanchard, a professional installer sent by Ross Recreation of Santa Rosa.

Several attorneys, an auto mechanic, a stockbroker, an engineer and many other dads employed in the construction trades sacrificed a day off for the sake of their children. One longtime Penngrove resident, a painting contractor who has no children, also volunteered because he believes it's his civic responsibility to help others.

Their generosity wasn't lost on fifth grader Garrett Spann, who watched the men and a few women erect the plastic and metal structure.

"It's really helpful or parents to do it, because it probably wouldn't be done otherwise. My dad and mom are out here," said Spann. "I think it's going to be fun to play on and they'll be more things to do at recess. I'm looking forward to playing on the monkey bars."



In an era when schools are stretched then paying for necessities, non-essentials like play equipment often get paltry sums. But in the last few years, there has been a trend toward playgrounds built by parent-teacher groups, creating a win-win situation for schools. A modest play structure may cost $8,000 while an elaborate playground set-up could be as high as $70,000 - plus installation costs.

At Penngrove Elementary School, some bond money has been used to upgrade the playing field and build concrete bleachers, Principal Delia Clements said, but there weren't enough funds left to replace an aging secondhand play structure. The school decided it needed to be discarded for safety reasons, and for the last few years the only play equipment was in the yard used by the kindergartners.

Sixth grader Jennifer Horn, 11, will get to play on the new equipment for a few months before graduating and heading off to junior high school.

"I think it was a big mistake when they took out the other one," said Horn, who was in first grade when the play equipment was removed.

Horn, president of the Penngrove Student Council, said it was a good idea for the parent committee to ask kids what they wanted on the playground, and she is especially pleased about the new swings.

During recess she said her classmates play basketball, football and tether ball on the blacktop, and when the fields are not muddy they've been able to play on the grass.

Last spring, parents began planning for the new equipment, and by the time the holes were dug for the structure last week more than $28,000 had been raised, according to Kerry Davison, who spearheaded the volunteer effort.

The school contributed $6,000 from interest on bond money, and loaned the committee a few thousand dollars to help buy the $32,000 equipment from Landscape Structures Inc., a Delano, Minn., company specializing in play equipment for schools and community parks. Fundraising will continue until the school's loan is paid off, Clements said.

Building your own playground is an effective way of getting more for less, since installation accounts for 25 to 30 percent of the cost. Parents pay the fee to the firm sending out an installer, and volunteers follow his directions to put the structure together, typically completing the job in just one weekend. Landscape Structures last year sold 800 to 1,000 play structures to community groups, most of whom were building playgrounds at schools.

"This is a more experienced crew then usual," said Blanchard, a contractor hired to supervise installation by the local distributor for Landscape Structures. "There's a lot of know-how here, and they brought a lot of tools. This is a good turnout of guys."

While students will enjoy the new equipment, including a track ride and a spiral slide, the esprit de corps cultivated among volunteers is another benefit, Davison said.

"What's really the greatest part is there were five guys covered in mud, digging and digging for hours. The tractor got stuck and it was just a nightmare, but there was no complaining and the were joking," Davison said, describing the task of digging holes the day before the big installation.

Aside from parents' cash contributions and labor, many local businesses donated materials, and Penngrove residents, some without children in school, sent in cash as well.

Terry Sthymmel has lived in Penngrove for 18 years and is a bachelor with no children. He believes it is his duty to pitch in with community projects and says when there are valuable fund-raising campaigns, he's glad to contribute.

"I have enough gift wrap for 10 years," Sthymmel said with a laugh, referring to the fund-raising sales by children in his neighborhood.

Sthymmel, a painting contractor, donated money to the playground project and purchased dozens of hot lunches from a restaurant for volunteers during the installation.

"If you are in a positition to help, I believe you should. If you are going to live in a community, you should participate," Sthymmel said. "As I get older, I can participate financially. And besides, who's going to feed these guys?"