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PRIME Editor SPRINGFIELD It was hot in the sun last Friday afternoon, but the 400-plus students and teachers at Glickman Elementary School seemingly didn't mind waiting a few extra minutes for the 1 p.m. groundbreaking ceremony to begin. They'd already been treated to a lunchtime barbecue under the trees, and the chance to escape the classroom once again on a warm spring day was yet another treat. As was the prospect of a new playground filling the open field behind the school. A playground that they, too, had worked so hard to help make a reality. So, red-and-white trowels in hand, these kindergarten-through fifth grade students sat patiently on the grass, waiting for the groundbreaking to begin. Another nine, the letters L.A. Fitness affixed to the white blades of their trowels, stood by a mound of dirt, poised to dig in. "This is a beautiful, beautiful day, a beautiful campus, and the best students in Springfield," said Dr. Edward Burke, outgoing Superintendent of the Springfield School System as the ceremony finally began. "We're going to be doing a dedication of a brand-new playground you will be able to play on when you return in the fall." Burke first thanked L.A. Fitness, which had donated $25,000 toward the project, for their support of the Glickman playground. He then singled out Lois Smith, local advocate for children's fitness, for her tireless work on the project, and her call to L. A. Fitness' corporate offices, which elicited the corporate donation. "She is a great force for kids," he said. Burke also acknowledged the hard work the Glickman students had put into the fundraising for the project. Together with the PTA, they collected $22,007 for the playground through a penny drive and other events. The city added another $35,000 to the playground fund, bringing the total monies for the playground, which will be accessible to students of all physical abilities, to $82,007. When he stepped up to the podium, Mayor Dominic Sarno also saluted L.A. Fitness and former Glickman student, Peter Pappas, now co-owner of Onyx restaurant adjacent to the fitness club, for their support of the project. "This is what it takes, public and private cooperation, especially in these difficult times, "Sarno said. Michael Brunk, general manager of L.A. Fitness, gave a large measure of credit to Smith for making the call to his company's corporate office that elicited the donation for the playground. "I really don't know if you know how important she is to this project," Brunk said. "You have an angel sitting amongst you." Prior to the ceremony, Brunk told Reminder Publications that though his company was new to Springfield, they had plans to be good corporate neighbors. "It's easy enough for a company of this size to ignore the city," Brunk said. "We want [Springfield] to see that we are here for the long term." Glickman Principal Martha Kelleher closed the remarks by telling the students to "give it up" for themselves for their efforts during the penny drive, and for their parents and PTA members, who had also assisted with fundraising for the playground. Following the groundbreaking, Patrick Sullivan, executive director of Parks, Building and Recreation Management for the city told Reminder Publications that the playground installation at Glickman School is part of an ongoing project to upgrade the recreational facilities at all Springfield elementary schools. "We want a play unit at every school,"Sullivan said. "We did Washington [Elementary School] last year, and Kensington Avenue School is next. " | ||||||
