Students at a Lakeland school are putting in the labour to make sure they get the play area they want. Grade 7 and 8 students from Iron River School have been tasked with the construction of a natural playground. From landscaping to structure and more, students will have the chance to make the area their own.
Iron River School Principal Jeannine Ellis says construction crew did some work outside but the rest is up to the students.
“When they were doing that, they leveled the ground in the back for us. They put some mulch in, put a tree in for us and got the space ready to do what we wanted to do.”
Ellis says Dustin Blake, a teacher at the school, was the one to encourage the students to take ownership of their new space. She says the students have been working hard at making the play area one they would enjoy.
“They’ve spoken to different people in the area about what types of trees would grow, what kind of grass would work their. They’ve talked to some other contractors about bringing in logs for kids to jump on and run and play with.”
Ellis says the students will have to pitch their plan to the parents council tomorrow night. Should it get the thumbs up from a budget and safety stand point, she believes work will begin by next month.