Wood River Elementary receives more money for playground project

WOOD RIVER, Neb. (KSNB) - Wood River Elementary is $25,000 closer to getting an accessible playground at the school.

The Grace Koepp Foundation has granted the playground project with the grant money. This is the latest in funds that the school has received to help make improvements to the playground.

The improvements include new equipment, poured-in-place ground cover, turf for a soccer/football area, and fencing.

So far, the school has raised $90,993 with a good portion of that coming during Go Big Give.

Elementary Principal Kelly Klanecky said their parent teacher organization has been working hard on fundraiser to raise more and they’ve also had generous donors to get them to that total.

The goal they hope to reach is $750,000.

“We know we won’t be able to raise the funds for all of that, but we are trying to raise as much as we can,” said Klanecky. “The Wood River Board of Education is committed to making the project a reality and will help cover the cost as well.”

They hope to have some solid funding in place before construction gets started on the project.

Klanecky said the goal is to begin construction in the summer of 2023 but it may get pushed back depending on the current cost of things.

She said this project is something they’ve wanted to do for years.

“Our current playground is very difficult for students in wheelchairs to access so we want to build something that would be inclusive for all children,” she said. “Also, when people drive by our community, we want everyone to know that Wood River has invested in our kids and is a strong community.”

She said they feel that a new playground would communicate that.