Thanks to grants from the McTaggart Charitable Trust, two Logansport elementary schools are on track to obtain new playground equipment.

Fairview and Franklin Elementary schools applied for grants from the trust and received word shortly before winter break their requests had been approved for $10,000 each.

“I can’t tell you how happy and thrilled we are that we were awarded money from McTaggart,” Fairview principal Chris Hess said.

“Everyone is so thrilled to know it will benefit the entire school.”

According to Hess, the money will be used towards a pourable ground cover for the playground.

The school already had the opportunity to purchase new playground equipment after earning $10,000 through Logansport Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Healthy Kids BMI Initiative for having lowered its overall body mass index level the most. The parent-teacher group also contributed funding towards the new equipment and the playground equipment company matched dollar for dollar.

“We don’t have a major playground on our property,” Hess said. “The kids use Fairview Park. We do have a little playground at the school.”

The playground equipment has been delivered. Funding for the ground cover still needs to be raised.

The school will spend the entire second semester looking for additional grants and other sources of funding for the ground cover.

The goal to install the poured rubber covering and equipment is by late spring.

“I would love to get it installed and poured before the school year ends,” Hess added. “Will it happen? I hope. I’m optimistic. I have a lot of faith this project will come together and get done.”

The school still needs to raise between $13,000 to $15,000.

Hess said the safety was the school’s main concern for all 430 students. She added neighbors will be able to use the playground and many people will be impacted by the grant.

Franklin has playground equipment on the property, according to principal Hayley LaDow.

“The playground is 25 years old,” she said. “Some of it has been torn down because of the fact it was becoming deteriorated.”

LaDow said the equipment has been inspected over the years and is deemed safe. Since it is made from wood and metal, she said children do have the risk of splinters. With peices removed, the play area is also limited.

Franklin has formed a committee, which is working on a playground proposal. The committee has decided to use the grant money towards playground equipment or the soft ground covering.

“We still have quite a bit of money to raise overall,” she said.

The school is looking at between $80,000 and $90,000 to raise once it figures in excavating and having it professionally installed.

The structure the school would like to obtain costs $75,000, but LaDow said it offers plenty of activities for all students — kindergarten through fifth grade.

The playground committee is seeking ways to raise additional funding. LaDow said Logansport Parks and Recreation Department administrator Jan Fawley has been helpful with providing suggestions for possible grant opportunities.

In addition to writing grants, the school will also hold fundraisers.

“Right now, fundraisers don’t bring in as much money as they used to,” she said. “It would take several years to raise money that way.”

The school has also considered purchasing and installing the playground in phases.

As for an exact time line at Franklin, LaDow said there is not one.

“I would like to say next year, but it will probably be longer than that to come up with the funding,” she said.

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com