Crown Hill’s playground six years in the making

Final piece to be installed tomorrow.

After six years of fundraising, the students at Crown Hill Elementary School will finally have their new playground complete.

The Crown Hill PTA has been working continuously to raise money for the new playground equipment and the final phase of that playground goes in tomorrow.

“We installed the first section about two years ago and the second section went in last year,” said J. David Rubie, PTA member and former candidate for a position on the Bremerton School District Board of Directors. “On Saturday we’ll be adding the final phase.”

The old equipment was “falling apart,” according to Rubie, to the point that BSD removed much of it from the school yard. A few swing sets still remain, but show the unmistakeable signs of aging.

The PTA used auctions, cookie dough sales, McTakeovers, a walkathon and just old-fashioned donations to reach its final goal, and according to Rubie, community members pitched in as well.

“Home Depot is delivering the 100 bags of concrete needed for the project,” he said. “They gave us a good discount and are delivering it for free.”

In addition to Home Depot, a group of United States Navy Seabees from Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor will be joining PTA volunteers and teachers tomorrow to help install the equipment.

The new equipment, called Ground Zero, includes an S-loop ladder, U-bounces, chin bars and more and will take up a space of 50 feet-by-45 feet in the playground area.

“There is currently a slide and climbing wall,” Rubie said. “The next phase just adds on to what is there.”

The school is planning an open house for the playground Friday, Sept. 25 and the public is invited to check out the new equipment.

“We will be doing our walkathon at that time as well to start raising money for future projects,” Rubie said.

Contact Bremerton Patriot Staff Writer Steven DeDual at sdedual@bremertonpatriot.com or (360) 308-9161.

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