Friends of East Wheatland half-way to completing goal

Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter
A price tag of $252,907.49 and over 1,000 labour hours, in the form of a playground, is what it cost to truly bring together the four communities of Standard, Rockyford, Gleichen and Hussar this past spring.
Friends of East Wheatland, a group of parents and teachers committed to raising funds to purchase extra equipment for the new Wheatland Crossing School, have been working and fundraising diligently throughout the past few years to gain funds to provide a top-of-the-line playground for students in the new Wheatland Crossing School.
Following countless consultation meetings and periods of difficult collaboration, an announcement was made in September 2013 that the four communities would be joining together in the creation of one rural school for all elementary, junior high and senior high students.
On May 15 students, parents and teachers alike finally saw the completion of a dusty field turned into a modern rural school that fits in with 21st century-style learning.
Around a month after the 400 students and teachers made the big move to their new facility, a brand-new playground was installed for elementary students to utilize.
“The playground did come in slightly over what we initially aimed for, but it is well worth it. It is a really great set of equipment,” said Kathryn Brown, Chair for the Friends of East Wheatland.
The total cost of the new playground rang in at nearly $253,000.
Following some unexpected fundraising setbacks – namely not being able to hold lotteries or anything of the sorts due to the Alberta Gaming and Licence Commission (AGLC’s) rules about not allowing fundraising to take place before a building exists – the Friends of East Wheatland group was able to raise just over $73,000 for the playground.
Knibb Development donated some last-minute work amounting to just over $15,000. After receiving some other funds, the total amount paid for the playground is $113,373.14 with yet another $139,534.35 remaining owing.
Costs for the playground include the playground equipment, a plastic border, wood chips and installation supervision, bobcat services, heavy equipment usage, material and labour.
Not counted for are the 1,006 donated man hours that teachers, family and friends put in during the five-day playground installation, as well as the 63 hours of donated skid steer work and donated skilled labour time and donated time from Knibb Development.
Brown noted that Friends of East Wheatland have applied to hopefully receive the Community Facility Enhancement Grant through the government, although they are not getting their hopes too high as many other communities also apply for that grant.
“We are hoping that the County would be supportive of the Parks and Recreation fund perhaps being able to set aside some of that for this project,” said Brown.
“We will continue to raise money for the remaining (money owing) regardless,” she added.
Deputy Reeve Ben Armstrong asked CAO Alan Parkin if there is money available in the Parks and Recreation to be possibly set aside to help aid in lowering the amount owing for the playground.
Parkin noted that there are funds available but he would request for council to give direction for him to bring back a request for decision at a subsequent meeting so that council members can review the numbers to make an informed decision.
Armstrong motioned for a request for decision, which passed.
Councillor Alice Booth mentioned for the group to also apply for the Enhanced Capacity Advancement Program (ECAP) grant should they fit the criteria.
It was also noted that there were several other smaller projects that the Friends of East Wheatland were working on raising funds for such as a scoreboard, floor covering in the gymnasium, and purchasing and installing bleachers in the gymnasium.
Several other projects haven’t been able to be completed such as purchasing and installing theatre bleachers, fully equipping the media room, purchasing new sports equipment and purchasing a 3D printer.
“(Some) small stuff isn’t in. We do have casino money. Our goal was not to use that to finish paying for the playground because that has to last us three years in a school that is now four times (the size) we had before. We are downsized that way,” said Brown adding that “That money is meant for students and for programming in the school.”
Alan Larsen, Mayor of Standard, Golden Hills School Division Trustee, and member of the Friends of East Wheatland was in attendance for moral support.
“Throughout the whole playground procedure, that (installation) was the first time I saw all communities come together,” said Larsen. “It was a County of Wheatland group that put in the thousand hours and strived for one goal.”
The playground has been described as essential in the success of the transition into the new rural Wheatland Crossing School.