Twenty students cut the ribbon to open the playground at Les Cheneaux Community Schools Tuesday, September 6.

The Les Cheneaux Community Schools playground was reopened Tuesday, September 6, on the first day of school, as 20 students cut the ceremonial ribbon. Eight freestanding play units, installed over the past two weeks by volunteers, include a merry-go-round, seesaw, climbing structures and bars, and slides.

Other equipment was installed during the first phase and a third phase will include landscaping, benches, trash receptacles, picnic tables, and a proposed pathway paving.

Les Cheneaux Community Schools students play for the first time on new equipment that rounds out the playground in Cedarville Tuesday, September 6. Planning for the new facilities started six years ago to replace the old metal and rubber swing sets and a wooden climbing structure that no longer met state safety codes.

The new playground received $70,000 over two years from a special millage for school projects and another $2,000 to $3,000 was raised by the Student Activities Advisory Council and Elementary Student Council. In addition, 33 adult and teen volunteers contributed 650 hours of labor to the project, and 16 businesses, organizations, and individuals contributed money, equipment, and other support.

At Tuesday’s dedication, Elementary Principal Eric Cardwell recognized three volunteers in particular, Todd Lysinger, Jason Bowlby, and Rick Shapero, who "were at the site every hour of every day we worked on this." Pam Schebel of the Student Activities Advisory Council credited Mr. Cardwell for a similar contribution to the project, "which went above and beyond the duties of his position."

Students were invited to cut the ribbon because of their involvement with the playground and included Mary Smith, representing the kindergarten, first grader Sarah Yoder, second graders Travis Schebel, Colton Bucht, Jacob Goodell, and Annie Eberts, third grader Teddy Bowlby, fourth graders Maddy Cardwell, Eric Schebel, Hilan Lysinger, Kelly Wright, Sam Eberts, Cara Hakola, and Kayla Merchberger, and fifth graders Alice Landreville, Janaan Myers, Patrick Weaver, and Jesse Malkowski.

Bob Tooley of Cedarville, a local consultant for Miracle Recreation Equipment Company, which furnished the playground, provided technical assistance.

Corporate and individual donations are being sought for the third phase. Donors can contact SAAC members Kristi Goodell at (906) 647-8330 or Pam Schebel at (906) 484-2440, or Les Cheneaux Elementary School at (906) 484-2256, ext. 2.