LEROY — An effort to upgrade LeRoy School’s playground equipment has received a $150,000 boost.
The grant came from the Federated Co-operatives Limited community spaces project.
The project is co-op’s effort to “bring people together, creating places for everyone and building a lasting legacy that benefits our community into the future,” said Nick Koroluk, Midway Co-op’s general manager.
Of the $2 million total given out to 28 applicants this year, LeRoy school was one of two to receive the maximum grant of $150,000.
The community of just over 400 residents “has got the biggest heart,” said LeRoy School librarian Sheila Lissel.
“Now, it has the biggest grant, which is really good.”
The money will be spent on entirely replacing the towns only playground, which “really wasn’t up to code anymore,” Lissel said. Other than a factory fresh shine, the new school playground will also have wheelchair-accessible features such as a wheelchair swing.
The playground’s final design and permits are still being determined by a community committee – including the school community council, who submitted the original application – and the Horizon School Division.
Lissel said the grant is a blessing for LeRoy, which as a town had lost their hockey rink completely to a fire about five years ago.
“We've always had to go out and raise our own money,” she said. “We've had to work for everything we've got... finally we got something given to us."
The school will be celebrating with a cheque presentation and free sausage lunch on June 17.
