Highland Community School District to begin playground construction

RIVERSIDE - Highland Community School District students will have a brand-new playground to enjoy when they come back from summer vacation.

The playground is one of several projects funded by a $3.7 million bond passed in September. Superintendent Ken Crawford said the district allocated 380,000 to 390,000 for the playground and was able to receive a $388,000 bid from a company out of Iowa City.

'We were very excited and happy it came within the range we thought it would,” Crawford said.

Following a preconstruction meeting in late February, Crawford said the tentative start date for the two-month construction project is June 1. The district is hoping to finish construction by August 15 before students are back in school.

The new playground will include monkey bars, new swings and equipment to meet the needs of students with handicaps. Crawford added the playground also will include a ninja course and multicolored epoxy-style flooring.

The superintendent said the current playground was built in 1994 along with the elementary school building. While the district has added pieces to the play area, this project is the first major update.

'We're taking everything out and redoing the surface, grating and moving it east and west facing instead of north and south, It'll have a whole new feel and design,” Crawford said.

While the playground will be used by the school during the school year, the superintendent said he felt the project is 'a game-changer for the community itself.”

'Just for people to drive by the school and see the new playground, and during the summer, kids can use it or day cares can come by. I think the impact is great and multifaceted,” he said.

In addition to the playground, funds from the bond will go toward installing a new HVAC system in the high school and middle school building as well as additions to the building's Fine Arts wing. Construction for the HVAC system is expected to begin either in April or May and conclude just after students return from summer break.