4 | August 30, 2018 | The Mokena Messenger school mokenamessenger.com Mokena Elementary unveils new playground Megan Schuller Freelance Reporter This time last year, Mokena Elementary School students played on “the playground of swings,” as they called it. It was several rows of aged swings in which more than 25 years of wear had dug holes that often filled with water beneath the swings. “On inclement days like this, often times the kids really couldn’t even swing on them,” Assistant Principal Cathy Lark said. Now, the students have a newly installed climbing wall and bars, slides, monkey bars, and swings to play on outside the MES Gym. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Aug. 20 to unveil the park to MES staff, parents and students. “Our hope is that everyone can use it,” Lark said. “We have students that will use it every day, but I hope that when the park district has baseball games kids can use it then. Kids in the neighborhood can use it.” When Lark said everyone, she meant everyone. The school ensured that the park is also handicap accessible. It was fitted with a woodchip ramp access point and a special swing that can accommodate students with disabilities. “When looking at options for playgrounds, it was important to us that it be accessible to all children,” Lark said. “We’re proud of the fact that we have students with different needs that attend Mokena Elementary School. We want all of them to have a place to play and just be a kid.” Principal Rachel Chorley said that the old playground of swings didn’t give students an opportunity to move around. “Exercise helps kids learn. They need to get out, move their bodies and move around,” Chorley said. “We’re very happy to have this new piece of equipment. We’d love to add on and expand it.” The equipment and installation cost $52,000 in total. A large sum of that bill was raised by students in a walka-thon. The students raised $18,350 to go toward their new playground. Proceeds for the park started with the walk-a-thon the students did for fundraising. Later, the Mokena Educational Foundation, PTA, local businesses, Walmart and the school board stepped in to contribute toward the park. The unveiling of the new park was a year and a half in the making, which Lark said is a fast turnaround. “We ordered the equipment once we had the money and had it installed in the summer,” Lark said. Pre-kindergartner Zach Schwab, 4, played on the new playground after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. After climbing up the bars, he held his hands up the air and slid down the new slide with a grin on his face. Children play on Mokena Elementary School’s new playground Aug. 21. Megan Schuller/22nd Century Media “I love to climb. It’s something new that I’ve never done before,” Schwab said. Vice President of MES’ PTA Cara Bencic said that the students disliked the “swing park” and rarely used it, so this new park will make a difference locally. “This new playground is a great size for this location,” Bencic said. “It’s a great asset and addition for the school and community.” Offer expires 9/14/18 Offer expires 9/14/18 Offer expires 9/14/18