Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

GPS new playground open for younger students

A pavilion project for Gurdon Primary School was completed this week, with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday morning.

Superintendent Bobby Smithson said the installation of the playground equipment had been delayed because of rainy weather, but is now finished.

The estimated cost of the project, from Hughes Construction, was reduced from $24,244 to $16,445, as was announced at the February School Board meeting.

Principal Rita Roe said she appreciates all who helped make the facility for pre-kindergartners and kindergartners possible financially and physically.

In addition to school money, which Smithson said Roe had $9,500 earmarked for the project, school personnel contributed work hours, the Cabe Foundation helped financially and County Judge Ron Daniell hauled five truckloads of pea gravel to the new playground.

"As soon as the playground is not too wet, we will begin playing on this wonderful facility," Roe said. "It has been a dream of mine for a long time to have an area like this to serve just kindergarten. Now that we have Pre-K here, this is particularly wonderful."

Roe said the facility includes a storage for putting the toys up when the children are finished playing.

Judge Daniell said, "I had hoped to get the gravel over here last Wednesday, but due to scheduling it was Friday. Still, we are glad the county could help in the project."

The teachers, students, principal and dignitaries were on the playground site Tuesday morning for a ribbon cutting near the edge of the pavilion.

"We would like to thank everyone who made this possible for the children," she said. "We will put the new pavilion and playground to a lot of use."