SitemapTaft Elementary gets an upgrade to playground equipment.
More than books, pencils and lessons will greet Taft Elementary School students when they return to class Aug. 22.
United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, Kiwanis Club of Youngstown and Taft Promise Neighborhood worked together to revamp equipment that already was on the school playground and add a new piece that includes slides, a climbing wall and other apparatuses.
The Kiwanis Club contributed $10,000 for the playground, and $4,000 of that came from the Ohio District Kiwanis Foundation.
“The Kiwanis reached out to United Way to see if they could help with something that was for kids,” said Bob Hannon, president of United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.
The donation coincided with Kiwanis’ 100th anniversary.
Representatives from the various organizations cut a ceremonial ribbon Tuesday afternoon at the playground, but neighborhood kids already are using it.
“When we were here Monday, there were kids’ footprints,” Hannon said.
United Way selected Taft for its next Success After 6 program. Youngstown Community School was the pilot school and the United Way hopes to bring it to all elementary schools in the city.
Along with Success After 6, the Taft Promise Neighborhood is an initiative involving United Way, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., the city, the school district and several other individuals and organizations.
Promise Neighborhoods are an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education and last year, a Strong Cities, Strong Communities Americorps VISTA team began working in the 15-block area around Taft.
Chuck Whitman of Canfield, past president and past lieutenant governor of Kiwanis, said the club focuses its efforts on the city.
“Our mission is to help one child and one community at a time,” he said. “This project will help a lot of children.”
While many club members live in the suburbs, they lived in the city and attended city schools when they were younger.
“I’m a graduate of South High School, and I went to Princeton [Middle School] and Sheridan [Elementary],” he said. “I got a very good education. There were many excellent teachers there – and there still are.”
Krish Mohip, city schools chief executive officer, said education is about the whole child, not just reading and math.
“Children need an outlet,” he said. “They need a place to play.”
John McMahan, Taft principal, said students will be excited when they see the new attraction.
“It will get a lot of use,” he said. “The kids spend a lot of time out here even in the fall and up to December, if the weather allows.”
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