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HARPSWELL

Cheers and applause echoed across the Harpswell Community School grounds on a recent morning, as the entire student body gathered for the dedication ceremony of the school’s pristine new playground.

Students formed a circle around the brightly colored swings, slides, and climbing equipment, and gazed eagerly across the fresh field of woodchips as their classmates sang the Harpswell Song, their school anthem.

“It was amazing to see,” said Amy Johnson-Morin, chairperson of the HCS Parent Teacher Organization Playground Committee that spearheaded the playground reconstruction effort. “You do this for the kids, so to see them run toward the playground — I don’t even have the words. It was priceless.”

ALL OF HARPSWELL COMMUNITY SCHOOL gathered Tuesday morning for a dedication ceremony to celebrate the opening of the school’s new playground. The Harpswell Community School mascot, Claude the Lobster, was a surprise guest at the ceremony and was the first to test out the new equipment.
ALL OF HARPSWELL COMMUNITY SCHOOL gathered Tuesday morning for a dedication ceremony to celebrate the opening of the school’s new playground. The Harpswell Community School mascot, Claude the Lobster, was a surprise guest at the ceremony and was the first to test out the new equipment.
Planning for the new playground started twoand a-half years ago, she said, and required a massive fundraising effort on the part of the community.

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THE HARPSWELL COMMUNITY raised $64,500 for the new playground, which features equipment from Miracle Recreation Equipment Co. that was selected by the student body.
THE HARPSWELL COMMUNITY raised $64,500 for the new playground, which features equipment from Miracle Recreation Equipment Co. that was selected by the student body.
“Even though it is on school grounds, it’s a community playground,” said Johnson-Morin, noting that $64,500 had been raised, a large portion of which came from local businesses.

Additionally, at Harpswell’s March Town Meeting, residents voted in favor of the town contributing $15,000 toward the new playground.

“People spread the word, they shared it on Facebook, they distributed flyers,” said Johnson-Morin, who commended HCS Principal Kerry Bailey and the Playground Committee for their support and labor. “Everybody near and far contributed. It was an enormous community effort.”

In the planning process, the Playground Committee contracted Eric Welzel, of Miracle Recreation Equipment Co., who drew up various playground designs. Those designs were then distributed to HCS students who voted on their favorite designs and equipment.

“The equipment that was out there previously was more than 40 years old and we were having to pull one piece at a time as it started to break,” said Johnson- Morin. “Our motto throughout this whole things has been ‘For the love of our children.’ To see it come to fruition, to watch them play and climb and explore is just so amazing.”

rgargiulo@timesrecord.com


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