Eastie rallies to raise funds for new school playground
The East Boston community is rallying to raise $50,000 to replace a nearly 30-year-old school playground that parents and neighbors say is out-of-date and unsafe for young kids.
“We would like it to be more safe and age-appropriate for students,” said Principal Olga Frechon at the East Boston Early Education Center. “It would be very nice to have a playground for them.”
The project has been a longtime goal for the community.
The current playground was built in 1988 when the school served older kids, and is not appropriate for the current 3- to 7-year-old population of children at the school, Frechon said.
New equipment would help kids get the most out of recess, Frechon said, noting that the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists says active playtime is essential to kids’ physical, social and mental development and wellbeing. The playground is open to the public as well.
A silent auction sponsored by the school site council today at 5 p.m. at the school will include Red Sox tickets, a Boston Harbor Cruise, restaurant gift certificates and other area business donations. The event also will feature a movie for the children, and two face-painters will be on hand to entertain.