Larson Elementary School gets new playground equipment

The 450 students at Ron Larson Elementary School in Wasilla immediately recognized the need for more playground equipment at their school. The K-5 school opened in the fall of 2001 with minimal playground equipment -- a slide, a trolly, two tetherballs and four swings.

With a typical recess having more than 100 children vying for a finite number of play spaces on playground equipment, something had to be done.

The Larson Eagle Assembly, a body of 10 fourth- and fifth-graders elected to the offices of class representative, quickly learned from students that a priority need at the new school was additional equipment. The need was especially obvious last fall when students were restricted from playing on the freshly planted grass.

Earlier this month, a huge improvement on the Larson Elementary playground became a reality. The PTA committed $1,150 toward new equipment during last year's budget process, easing the pull on the school's limited operating budget. The Wasilla Wal-Mart awarded the school a $1,000 matching grant at a staff "team meeting."

Employees cheered as the manager handed over a check to Principal Karl Schleich and Larson PTA Advocacy Chair Rachel Dodd.

"The children at Larson will be healthier and stronger due to your generous contribution" Schleich said.

The additional cash from the PTA and Wal-Mart helped, but still there were obstacles.

"We expected the equipment to arrive in September with plenty of time to install the equipment before the ground froze up," said Schleich.

However, the recent West Coast shipping lockout left the equipment in a container on a dock in Tacoma. Fortunately, cargo headed for Alaska began moving and the unseasonably warm fall prolonged the construction season. District maintenance staff labored several days earlier this month to prepare the playground for installation and then assemble the equipment.

"Our maintenance staff does an excellent job," Schleich said. "They worked several days and gave our students an opportunity to watch it happen."

This article was submitted by Larson Elementary.