Playground to enter the space age

It may not be Christmas just yet, but an amazing gift has arrived at Wiltse School in Penticton.

“The Apollo,” a two-storey, climbing, spinning playground will be a unique addition to play equipment for the school and wider community.

“It’s so cool”, said Grade 4 pupil Maxwell Hodges, “It’s like a spaceship had a fourmetre-high baby with a merry-go-round and then someone turned it into a spiderweb.”

Principal Travis Bond said the goal is to install the piece early in 2021. “The staff and students of Wiltse Elementary have always appreciated the support that we receive from PAC, parents and the local community. This is truly an example of coming together to achieve a common goal.”

The project was taken on by Wiltse’s parent advisory council, which has raised over $40,000 to purchase the equipment and put toward installation costs.

“There has been such generosity from our parent community and Wiltse’s entire neighbourhood”, said Tina Lee, chair of Wiltse’s playground committee, “We’re so close to

Special to Okanagan Newspaper Group

Travis Bond, principal of Wiltse Elementary School in Penticton, accepts delivery of Apollo equipment. our fundraising goal. We have about $5,000 to go to cover installation costs and then we’re ready to get the Apollo in the ground.”

Wendy and Wade Wagstaff of Grizzly Excavating will cover excavation and trucking costs associated with installation.

Contributions can be made by contacting Wiltse PAC at wiltseschooplac@gmail.com or online at gofundme.com/wiltse-elementary-playground-expansion.