Enterprise Attendance Center Parent Teacher Association membersgave schoolchildren a more pleasurable recess last week with thedonation of more than $5,400 in playground equipment to theschool.

The donation of a climbing rope ladder, camelback climbingequipment and a sitting area, including a picnic table, completes amore than $25,000 project begun a year ago, said Kim Nelson, PTAvice president.

Last summer, the PTA donated multipurpose equipment, swingsetand fun balls, she said. All of the new equipment is in schoolcolors “to help promote school spirit,” Nelson said.

Even the high schoolers have enjoyed the new equipment, shesaid, by using it as props and backdrops for photographs.

The need for the new equipment became apparent during the lastschool year, Nelson said. The PTA was considering rubberizing theexisting equipment to make it safer when the contractor pointed outseveral other safety factors, such as exposed concrete bases.

“When you see something every day, you really don’t pay closeattention to it,” she said. “When we really took a closer look atwhat we had, we didn’t like what we saw.”

The slides and swingsets were rusting and some bolts wereexposed in places , Nelson said. They began shopping and pricingnew equipment.

“They do a great job of working with the school and helping usout,” said Principal Shannon Eubanks.

Past President Shellie Furr and President Carolyn Welchspearheaded fundraisers to gather the money needed for the newequipment, Nelson said.

Students held drink sales and donated profits from the SpringCarnival to the project. They also collected box tops.

“The students collected over 8,000 box tops to raise more than$800,” she said.

The top fundraisers were rewarded with a limousine ride throughBrookhaven.

A majority of the new equipment was purchased and installed lastsummer with the remaining equipment installed during early August,Nelson said. The PTA transferred ownership of the equipment to theschool district Monday.

Eubanks said the partners are evaluating a future project toexpand the playground, noting the school has several temporaryclassrooms erected near the playground now.

“We’re hoping one day to get rid of them and expand theplayground,” he said.

Nelson said the PTA will be ready to support an expansion whenthe school is ready.