Dinner Ramps Up Wacky World Replacement Efforts in Adams
 Wacky World was built by the community and Principal Michelle Colvin hopes to recreate those efforts with the replacement structure. |
ADAMS, Mass. — A spaghetti dinner Tuesday night kicks off a fundraising push to get the funds to build a new Wacky World.
The playground at C.T. Plunkett Elementary School had fallen into disrepair and was shut down. Named Wacky World, it was built in partnership with the community and its closure sparked discontent throughout town. It was later deemed that Wacky World was unsalvageable.
However, a Parent-Teacher Group members, community and school officials formed a playground committee and have so far raised about half of the $80,000 needed to replace it. Meanwhile, the towers and the checker board entrance to the old Wacky World were saved to be incorporated into the next.
"When our fundraising is complete, we want to work with the company to do a side-by-side community build," said Principal Michelle Colvin, to recreate the original playground construction.
The Wacky World name will be retired, Colvin said, and the students will help not only design but also name the new one.
The new playground is estimated to cost $80,000 and will include the start of an ongoing maintenance fund and a security system. The security system addresses some of the concerns the school and town have had over after-hours usage of the playground.
"We recognize we have a long way to go," Colvin said of the fundraising efforts. "We're aggressively applying for other grants."
Tuesday's dinner ramps up the group's fundraising efforts. It has already been soliciting businesses, placing collection cans around town and collecting box tops — the box tops will be ongoing every year for the maintenance fund.
"We're really thankful to everyone who has already donated," Colvin said.
The goal is to have the new playground built by the next school year so an array of new fundraising events are expected to unfold following the February break as the group makes a final dash to reach its goal.
"The spaghetti supper is kind of our big kick off," Colvin said.
Local businesses have already volunteered to help hold other fundraising events, she said.
The spaghetti supper, "Pasta for Plunkette Playground," runs from 4 to 8 at the Bounti-Fare. Ticket are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and for children 12 and younger. The dinner includes raffles for gift baskets and a 50/50.
Tags: fundraiser, playgrounds,
