Hart said in addition to the hundreds of community members who came out to help between Sept. 22-26, numerous businesses donated labor, equipment and food to the effort.
“Businesses are hurting, but they are donating people or services instead,” said Hart, noting that LexisNexis, TeraData, St. Leonard Assisted Living and Fairhaven Church were among the many groups that sent people to help.
Panera, Geez Pub and Grill, Jets Pizza, Ruby Tuesday’s, Elsa’s, and Chick-fil-A were among the restaurants that donated food, and Centerville Landscaping and Lunne Lawn & Landscaping sent workers and Bobcats, respectively.
Also, Ernst Concrete donated the concrete, the Harold J. Becker Co. donated the crane, Southtown Heating and Cooling donated tools and stadium lights, and Lowe’s provided discounts.
Hart said the major sponsors and donors will be recognized in plaques on the playground and the school.
“Also, we had two dads at the school pass away in the time (we were working on the project),” she said.
“Jason Kirby and John Knauer. So we dedicated components of the playground to them as well.”
The PTO planned and raised money for the new playground for two years. It replaced the school’s 23-year-old structure.
“The kids loved the old one, but they were getting splinters, and it was in need of regular maintenance,” said Stephanie Clark, a mother of four who helped at the site.
The new playground was paid for by money raised by the PTO and a grant from the Montgomery County Solid Waste Department.
The main structure is in place, and kids were able to play on it Monday. The project is still in need of about $25,000 for swings, seating areas and other free-standing components.
To donate or for more information, call PTO playground committee chairwoman Marsha Birch at (937) 433-5706 visit www. johnholeptoplayground.org.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author