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8/30/2012 - South Side Leader
     

By Joyce Rainey Long

Photos: Joyce Rainey Long

GREEN — Shown at right top are Green Primary School students as they climb, jump and swing on their new expanded playground, which was completed the week before school started. On Aug. 24, the school held a dedication ceremony for the new playground, which was expanded from 16,000 square feet to 66,000 square feet, thanks to a donation of $115,000 from Green businessman Randy Theken. The PTA also contributed $8,000 to the playground, according to district officials.

The playground now features an all-purpose athletic field, three basketball hoops, 16 swings and 30 other pieces of playground equipment, along with a walking path, ornamental trees and benches.

Shown at right bottom is first-grader Francesco Duluce climbing on the new equipment. The students got an extra hour of recess Aug. 24 and cookies during lunch to celebrate the new playground.

“This is a great day, and we are very thankful to Mr. Theken,” said Green Superintendent Michael Nutter.

Students from Green Primary School — which houses 925 first-, second- and third-graders — agreed with Nutter.

“You made recess worthwhile,” said third-grader Dennis Butts as he read aloud a letter he wrote to Theken at the dedication ceremony. “The whole community can play on it.”

“This is for the kids,” said Theken, shown above left, who has a son in third grade and another in fifth grade. Theken said he believes the monkey bars and the athletic field will be the most popular with the students.

Theken is founder of four orthopedic medical device companies and donated 90 iPads, with an approximate value of $50,000, last year to Green Primary School, according to district officials.

“It is an amazing feeling to observe our kids laughing, smiling and engaged in a safe environment on the playground,” said Kevin Finefrock, Green Primary principal. “At the beginning of the school year, we constantly challenge our students to do one kind act for another person every day. The playground project was made possible because of the kindness of Mr. Theken and the PTA. These two groups provided our school an example of kindness that we can work to emulate this school year.”

— By Joyce Rainey Long

     

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