Fr. Marc Gawronski blesses the new playground during a special celebration with St. Joseph students last month.
There are no complaints from the St. Joseph Catholic School community about the summer weather extending well into October.
Pleasant, sunny days meant more time outside on the new playground added to the complex on Third Street between St. Joseph and Elm streets.
Phase One involved revamping the corner at the south end of the building, which used to be a parking lot. Formerly dubbed “the pen,” it was transformed in time for the opening day of school, Aug. 26. The cost was $88,000.
“Crews of adult volunteers made the installation happen,” said Principal Teri Thomas, who is overseeing the projects with the School Advisory Committee and church leaders.
Certainly, the bright colors of the equipment and the areas for kicking goals, shooting hoops and playing four-square have caught the eyes of passersby.
Phase Two will be a playground, just as colorful, at the east side of the building for the younger half of the student body, which spans from PreK to Eighth Grade.
The play spaces have been in the works for several years, a goal of the former pastor, the late Fr. Stephen Rooney, when he was assigned to the parish in 2018. He died in 2020.
School families and alumni, parishioners, and local organizations and businesses have responded to the fundraising campaign to raise the $150,000 needed for the projects.
Also providing invaluable assistance was Joe Markusen of Blue Line Building and Alta Equipment.
With all but the finishing touches of Phase One completed, Thomas said there is $12,000 in the coffers for Phase Two, which is estimated to cost $47,000. Summer 2022 is the target date for installation, she said.
To mark the welcome addition to the school grounds, the Rev. Marc Gawronski, acting parish administrator, dedicated the play space Oct. 14 with a blessing after the weekly school mass — a grand procession of students and staff walked from church at one end of the block to the playground at the other end.
In time, Thomas said a mosaic donor wall will be raised in appreciation for those who supported the school projects.