SPRING CREEK — When school starts on August 29, students at Spring Creek Elementary will play on new rubber tokens on part of the playground.
This is thanks to a multitude of donors who gave money, resources and time to the Spring Creek PTA who wanted a safer playground for their children.
“This fulfills our purpose and allows us to do the first playground,” said Neena Moore, representing the Spring Creek Elementary PTA. “Because the initial cost was so high, it became pretty clear that we were going to meet him.”
“Our fundraising has been tremendous,” Moore added. She, along with other SCE parents, was the driving force in resurfacing the playground with rubber patches to reduce student injuries and scratches during recess.
The fine gravel that covered much of the playing field has seen its depth eroded over the years since it was laid almost 30 years ago. Parents researched various substitutes, including wood shavings, settling on pieces of rubber as the safest option.
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The weather was also a factor in raising around $18,500 to buy the rubber and have it installed before the first day of school, which would be just enough to cover part of the playground to include the areas of fall.
Moore reported that the funds came from a variety of sources, including $10,000 from previous annual school PTA fundraisers and an additional $3,500 from other sources, including.
“We got a great quote from a company in Arizona,” she explained. “We needed about $5,000 more and we got it.”
On August 3, Cook’s Steakhouse & Saloon held a pancake bar fundraiser that included candies, sweets and fruit options, donated by Smith’s, Albertsons and Bonanza Produce Co. as well as mini muffins from Albertson’s .
Erica Cook, owner of Cook’s Steakhouse, donated food and catering space for the event.
Participants could also do crafts and have their faces painted. There were also special appearances from Spring Creek Elementary’s mascot Bobby the Bobcat and new principal Carrie Gregory.
The PTA also collected 55 donated items for a drawing.
A work crew is scheduled at 9 a.m. on August 16 at the school, which is ready for rubber shavings. “We didn’t need to remove the gravel. We just moved it to spaces that weren’t getting mulch.
Spring Creek Elementary PTA Raises Money for Fine Gravel Replacement
As for renovating the rest of the playground “so far there are no specific plans,” Moore said. “We have to work on one set at a time”
The Spring Creek PTA thanked all fundraiser donors, as well as cash and check donors, including Artistic Curb, Silver Tree Dental, Bawcom Real Estate, Koinonia Construction Inc., Elko Dental Specialists, Boss Tanks and Brent Stokes.
They also thanked donors for the items in the drawing, including Bawcom Real Estate, for dinner at 360 Lodge, Mudd Hutt, TNT – three stylists, the Pedal Merchant, the Star, Luciano’s, Event Source, Rolbertos, Ogi Deli, Spring Creek Golf Course, Ruby Mountain Photography, Mattie’s, CNC Milling Metal Wall Art, Gun World for a Gift Basket, Handmade Quilt, Nuts Under a Buck, Carry On With Style – nine stylists, LeeAnne’s Floral Designs, Crystal 5 Movie Theater, Great Clips, Moe’s Bubbles, GameStop, Spring Inn Bar, Empower Fitness with a subscription, Petco, Las Brisas, the Coffee Mug, Sand and Sagebrush, Dragonfly Gypsy Boutique, Evolution Powersports, Game Troll, Evergreen Floral, Old Timey Ice Cream, Wild Strand Jewelry, Pinon Rehabilitation, Mandi Lake – cheesecake, and Have a Ball Party Supplies.
“Thanks to all the generous people in Elko County, our children will have a safer playground this year,” Moore said.
