New playground equipment for Robert Moore

After more than a year of fundraising, Robert Moore School installed its new playground equipment last week.
“It’s been a real community effort,” said vice-principal Brad Oster.
The school council there was involved from the beginning, in the 2005-06 school year when fundraising efforts began in earnest, Oster explained.
The need for the new equipment was clear.
“We would come out on supervision duty and would see kids just standing around,” he said.
“It’s really about a need for kids to have something to do outside,” Oster stressed. “We’re really trying to promote active and healthy living.”
In addition to a large new jungle gym, the school also has installed new tether ball stations.
The new equipment was paid for through school fundraising efforts, as well as through donations from the Moffat Foundation ($7,500) and the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition ($450).
“The park is so centrally located, it’s like seven-day usage,” noted Fort Frances Coun. John Albanese, who sits on the RRVSC board of directors.
“There are kids here all the time,” agreed Grace Silander, who chairs the board.
Coun. Albanese, Silander, and RRVSC co-ordinator Hugh Dennis all were on hand last Wednesday to give Oster a cheque for $450 to help pay for the $30,000 project.
The Town of Fort Frances also donated two workers for two days to help install the equipment. They were helped out by student volunteers Jamie Loveday and Tyler Leepart.
Installation of the new equipment was completed Thursday.