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Woodland youths anxiously anticipate official opening of state-of-the-art outdoor equipment
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
WOODLAND — For the first time in roughly 25 years, Woodland youths will have new equipment to swing, climb, and crawl around on thanks to four years of tireless effort from what has been called the most dedicated PTA in the state. While the new equipment looks bright and inviting, playground installers advise the community to stay off of the new play ground for at least three more weeks.
 Contributed photo
Volunteer extraordinaire Steve Bither sets the gravel for a stabilizing block used to secure part of the new Woodland Community Playground.
Woodland school faculty and PTA members plan to organize a formal playground opening around the start of school in mid-August.
Approximately 40 volunteers weathered the sun and late showers to erect the new equipment on July 17; from the former 30-year principal to teens from Caribou and Easton, the volunteers lugged all the carefully organized equipment out from the school gymnasium to precisely piece together the cumbersome puzzle of bold yellows, blues and reds.
The July 17 build encompassed a large portion of the construction for the new playground — the first part of a three-phase project; an additional piece of equipment designed for older youths (phase two) and fitness-circuit equipment (phase three) for the non-elementary residents of Woodland are still in the works for when additional funding become available.
The Woodland PTA raised approximately $25,000 for the newly installed portion of the playground, which is a considerable amount of money raised from bake sales, private donations and silent auctions in only four years. Two major grants contributed $75,000 for the project, one from the State Department of Conservation and the other from Maine’s Department of Community Development.
“We’re very appreciative of the community and we couldn’t have done this without their support,” said playground project coordinator and former PTA president Tracy McCrossin.
 Contributed photo Peter Milliard supervises while Gary Dodd sets a handrail for one of the new pieces of playground equipment.The new playground, manufactured by Miracle Playground Equipment, will offer many exciting possibilities for youngsters both physically and mentally. Looking at the equipment, it’s easy to see how a child could exercise their arms using the rock wall as Mt. Everest and their legs running from gazebo to gazebo across the bridge evading some mythical monster.
Whether the kids are tagging, hiding, running, jumping or even chasing butterflies across the wood-chip grounds, the new equipment offers a bright, imaginative setting for the students to have creative playtime while getting some proverbial fresh air and exercise. While work on the new playground is far from over, the completed phase one stands a shining testament to what a community — big or small — can accomplish through volunteerism and dedication.
 Contributed photo
Chest-deep in playground installation, volunteers waiting to assist with the setting of the stairs included, from left, Mary Dahlgren, Sherri Knight, Karyn Thornton, Merle Dahlgren, John Thornton, factory installer Carl Frederick, Paul Sutherland, Nick Beaudoin and Eric Traulwell.
 Contributed photo
Pat Milliard, front, prepares equipment for assembly while the heavy-lifters move equipment out of the gym two-by-two. Showing strength through volunteerism were, from left, Lori Phair, Phil Caverhill, Tristin Ouellette, factory installer Carl Frederick, Nick Beaudoin, Merle Dahlgren, Andy Robertson and Andy Beaudoin.
 Photo contributed by Sandra Swan
Dave McCrossin, Gary McCrossin and former Woodland Principal Philip Caverhill set aside a piece of the older swing set to be reused.
 Contributed photo
The old playground at the Woodland School, since torn down to make way for the new equipment, was loved by the students despite its out datedness; at the request of some current and former Woodland School students, educators and volunteers were able to salvage a few of the ‘antiques’ such as the swing set and the climbing dome to incorporate into the new playground.
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