Accomplished! Waterville Parents for Progress spearheads playground project

by Kelli Boylen

After 11 months of efforts by a core group of about seven parents and the volunteer time and energies of many others, Waterville Elementary students had a new playground waiting for them on the first day of school.
The fundraising began shortly after school started last year by Waterville Principal Joe Griffith and the Waterville Parents for Progress group. The parents group completed a lot of grant writing in between numerous other fundraising efforts including a holiday bazaar, a soup supper/ice cream social in conjunction with an all school open house, a silent auction at the winter concert, a rummage sale, a 25-cent  sale at school prior to Christmas, Quillin's receipts were collected, a buffet breakfast at Hardee’s, a car wash and a school dance. There were also sales of magazines, t-shirts, Tupperware, Smecils (scented pencils) and all school and class photos. Mailings were sent to alumni, local residents and area businesses, and many people with ties to the small community were generous.
In addition, funds were received from the local Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter which donated proceeds from their haunted house, Thrivent, Healthy Students/ Safe Schools Grant, 4-H Volunteer Iowa, ACE Communications, Nightcrawlers Forever, Iowa Farm Bureau, Allamakee Farm Bureau and Alliant Energy. The two largest grant were  $10,000 from the Allamakee Community Foundation, and a $17,500 grant from the USDA. Many local businesses were bighearted during the fundraising efforts as well.
Parents for Progress has been in existence for more than a decade. Parents working with teachers and Principal Griffith decided it was time to address needed updates to the current equipment’s deteriorating condition. The current wooden structure at the elementary was more than 12 years old and in very poor condition. Some of the pieces were actually moved to Waterville after the closing of the Dorchester school.
There were many large cracks and loose or missing hardware. The condition of the equipment had deteriorated to the point that the upper elementary students were not allowed to play on it during their recesses or after school.
The goal of the parents group was to provide a safe play structure for the students of Waterville Elementary and the community of Waterville and the surrounding area.

In addition to the core group of the Parents for Progress organization, a great many volunteers helped make the goals of the group a reality. Hours and hours were spent coordinating not just the sale of items and the events, but more than 85 volunteers worked together on installation day.
The representative from the playground equipment company had asked for volunteers to be lined up for two days August 11 and 12, but due to the great turnout, general construction knowledge and plenty of tools, the majority of the playground was installed in just one day. Several pieces that were late in coming were put in within a few hours later that week.
Eighty-five volunteers showed up that first day, and more than 40 contributed food for the installation crews. More than a dozen businesses donated services and/or materials the day of the installation. The Waterville Fire Department provided a grilled supper Tuesday night, which turned out to be a celebration of completion rather than just a meal midway through the project.
Now, the parents group is busy working on the “Wall of Fame,” which will be the permanent donor recognition display.
The members of the Parents for Progress committee are very humbled and very appreciative of the many individuals and businesses that make this project a reality. From the smiles of the children on the playground every day since school started, their hard work was worth the effort.