By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

O’Loughlin Elementary School will receive new playground equipment next week.

The O’Loughlin PTO donated more than $62,000 to purchase the new equipment and pay for installation. This included a $10,000 grant from the Heartland Community Foundation.

Alaina Cunningham, parent and PTO member, said the existing playground equipment was in poor shape. Bolts had fallen out of the equipment and some of the features had to be boarded up for safety reasons.

The new equipment will be ADA accessible and has facets that will address children’s sensory needs. A physical education curriculum also comes with the equipment.

The USD 489 staff members have been working to prepare the school grounds for the new equipment. The new equipment will be installed beginning next week. The project also includes new wood chip surfacing for the playground.

Some of the existing playground equipment that is still in good condition will be kept.