Pinehurst Playground project set for Friday

PINEHURST — Local residents may have heard about the Pinehurst Playground Project movement that has swept through regional social media in recent weeks.

This Friday, the project will have its first work day at Pinehurst Elementary School and project organizer Emilee Kulin is looking to get as many people on board as she can.

The whole project began after Kulin, who was utilizing the Pinehurst library for some studying of her own, began watching the kids (including her own) as they played on the school’s playground next door.

Kulin took notice of the aging, dilapidated playground equipment as well as the cracked cement and asphalt surrounding it. She then realized just how unwelcoming the backside and playground of the school had began to look.

“I initially just thought about painting the back wall near the drop off and pick up area is,” Kulin said. “But after talking to some other people who had noticed some other issues, and the creation of our Facebook page, the whole thing kinda snowballed into a full-on project.”

Community members have flooded the page with both ideas for things that can be done, as well as local residents and business owners stepping up to volunteer their time, efforts and resources to help get the playground back to a more inviting environment.

“The community has been incredibly supportive,” Kulin said. “So many people have stepped up and volunteered to help us achieve so many of our goals.”

This week’s workday looks to be a lot of cleaning and outdoor labor work, but if the weather cooperates and gives the Silver Valley a little warmth and sunlight, Kulin believes that some painting may even get done.

She is hopeful that much of the clean up aspect of the project will be completed before the kids return to school from Spring Break (which begins this weekend).

“If you have ever visited Pinehurst Elementary School, you will see that our little school is filled with so much love, and with amazing educators who go above and beyond for our children — who do what they can with what they have,” Kulin said. “Things are falling apart around the school, on the playground especially, and it could really use a face-lift. After all, this is where our children spend a good portion of their time. If we want more for our children, we need to give them more.”

Accounts have been set up on GoFundMe, as well as at Columbia Bank in Kellogg for anyone wishing to donate monetarily to the project.

The Pinehurst Playground Project is also looking for people with some experience writing grant proposals to help garner some more funds for future playground projects.

For more information on this Friday's workday, or just about the project itself, visit the Pinehurst Playground Project Facebook page.