A labor of love

OCP photo/Spitler Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) President Ellen Slotman and Vice President Amber Burden (at right) cut the ribbon during an unveiling ceremony of the improved Pirates’ Paradise playground Monday, June 2.

Spitler Elementary School celebrates upgraded Pirates’ Paradise playground

Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

HART — It has been a project two years in the making, involving parents, school staff, students, community members and charitable organizations, and it is finally complete.

The new and improved Pirates’ Paradise at Hart Public Schools’ Spitler Elementary School was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday afternoon, June 2. 

OCP photo/The new outdoor classroom.

Improvements include a sidewalk that is now ADA-compliant; an archway entrance; wheelchair accessible swings; tire swings; a new obstacle course playground structure; new fencing; an outdoor classroom; and a hammock garden.

“It was an army of volunteers to get this done,” said Spitler Elementary School Principal Brandon Bruce. “It has been a labor of love — that’s for sure.”

The wooden castle structure that was built by the community back in 1996 was replaced with a new playground structure. A majority of the former playground structure burned down about eight years later in an unsolved arson case. What remained of the wooden structure needed to be replaced due to its age, said the principal. 

“The fencing had names inscribed on it,” said Bruce. “We wanted to recognize that historical piece, so we refinished the fence pieces with all the names. The names are painted, so you can see them all.”

OCP photo/New tire swings are part of the improvements.

The new archway includes names of significant donors — $1,000 or more — toward the $85,000 project. School fundraisers also contributed significantly.

“It evolved from the discussion that we needed some ADA-compliant implements out there,” said Bruce. “Our sidewalk was limited and narrow, and you really couldn’t get a wheelchair in there.” 

Student volunteer groups, such as the high football and soccer teams and National Honor Society members, jumped in to help with the renovations, he said.

OCP photo/A new obstacle course playground structure replaces the old wooden castle-style structure.

“Amber and Ellen have worked their tails off,” said Bruce, referring to PTO Vice President Amber Burden and President Ellen Slotman. “There were several nights when it was just the two of them or just the three of us, fighting mosquitoes trying to get some fencing up or spreading mulch.”

Monday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was bittersweet for the PTO leaders. Both moms have fourth graders, so this is their last school year at the elementary school before they advance to middle school.

“They’re kind of sad that they don’t get to use it more,” said Slotman, “but we’re happy that we got it done.”

OCP photo/Refinished fence pieces with names of helpers and donors inscribed in the 1996 wooden structure are preserved.

“We’re very proud and very tired,” Burden said with a smile. “This was all a community build. We dug the holes; we poured the concrete; we spread all the mulch.”

The pair are especially proud of Hart’s first-ever outdoor classroom. The pavilion-style space has locking cabinets that contain classroom supplies, and there are whiteboards on the wall for instruction. Teachers in all the buildings can reserve a time slot so their classes can use the outside space. “We feel like it’s a great place to learn — it’s beautiful outside,” said Burden.

OCP photo/Spitler Elementary School Principal Brandon Bruce addresses the crowd gathered at the ribbon cutting ceremony. The entire fourth grade class attended.

“There was a good core group of helpers — we couldn’t have done it without everyone,” said Slotman.

“We get a lot of compliments on our playground,” said the principal. “People from out of town are impressed with what we have for our students.”

OCP photo

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