Northborough – Marguerite E. Peaslee Elementary School celebrated the opening of its new playground and basketball court at a ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 8. Families, staff and town officials, including members of the Northborough School Committee and Northborough Board of Selectmen, attended to commemorate the achievement.
The playground project was spearheaded by the 2014-2015 Parent-Teacher Organization Board, who undertook the fundraising effort and planning. A fun run was held in October 2014 and a grant through the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) was approved at Town Meeting in April. Avidia Bank in Northborough also supported the project.
A new basketball court was also installed over the summer, made possible through the work of the Northborough Youth Basketball Association and CPC.
Principal Dr. Jill Barnhardt said that both the play structure and the basketball court serve as examples of what can be achieved when a few committed individuals rally the members of their community to support a project designed to improve the lives of the children and families of that community.
“We can’t say enough about the incredible amounts of time, effort, collaboration and support we have received from the members of this fine community,” said Barnhardt. “For every moment and every dollar that an individual or organization invested in these two projects, the reward is the multiple moments of joy and laughter, fun and fitness of our
children over the months and years to come.”
Superintendent Christine Johnson echoed Barnhardt.
“It is important for our students to appreciate something we teach them each and every day in school – the importance of working together and believing that anything can happen,” she said. “This has been an amazing process to have it come to fruition in just one year.”
