News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Hermitage Springs Elementary is inviting the community to the grand opening of its student-designed playground Saturday.
Last month, First Lady Maria Lee and volunteers helped construct the facility. Kindergarten Teacher Jennifer Hayes said that in an area with few options for recreation, the playground is sure to be an excellent resource for residents.
“People are going to use it for all kinds of things,” Hayes said. “You know, just for the kids to play, for school field trips, family reunions, people get together, you know, just friends hanging out. So it gives everybody something to do. Not just the kids. So I mean, it’s just all the way around.”
Hayes said the grand opening Saturday 10am-1pm will include refreshments, door prizes, and live music. Hayes said as the playground is enjoyed for years to come it is part of the legacy of each student who played a part.
“A lot of the community, you know, we’re very close-knit,” Hayes said. “We want to see our community grow and become better, so everybody was really excited to see this initiative happening, and it was really neat to see everybody so excited about this cause.”
She said over the past month, crews have been finishing up some final landscaping details like laying sand for the volleyball court. The park also includes a walking trail, making it a valuable asset for adults looking for outdoor time. She said she is thrilled to see the kids who were eager to climb onto the playground the moment construction started finally have their chance.
“We live in a very rural area,” Hayes said. “We don’t have a lot of options as far as extracurricular stuff. We don’t even have a red light in our area, right here, directly. You know, very few stores, you know, so this is a very big thing for our community.”
