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City school fundraising for playground

Posted at 5:31 PM, May 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-18 19:35:05-04
Having fun on the slide, flying on the swings, or playing on the monkey bars is what a playground is supposed to look like, but not at Glenmount Elementary in Baltimore City.
 
The kids there have essentially been without a playground for years, but they're trying to change it in a unique way. To understand students' frustration with their playground, all you have to do is ask.
 
"We have to wait in line," said Armani Stewart, Pre-K student.
 
Karron Gable, a third grader, didn't hold back.
 
"Kind of disappointed," he said.
 
But when you ask them how they feel about getting a new one, their excitement becomes obvious.
 
"We can play on the swings," Stewart said.
 
"On the handle bars, you can get m,ore muscles," said Gamble.
 
Lissa Abrams, a grandparent of a student at the school applied for a grant through "Kaboom," a non-profit that helps schools build playgrounds. With the approval of the application, their next mission -- to raise matching funds needed to begin construction -- is just about complete, though not completely there yet.
 
Abrams started a GoFundMe page to crowd source. As of news time Wednesday, they had raised $5,650 of a $10,000 goal.
 
"We have everywhere from people giving 25 cents to people giving several hundred dollars," Abrams said.
 
Benjamin Mosley, the schools principal, said they had no doubt they would ultimately reach their goal.
 
"Our goal, and now it's two years finally coming to fruition, is having something that not just our students are active in and able to participate, but our hopes are that the entire community embraces it," Mosley said.
 
In the main hallway at the school, renderings show kids what their new playground will look like.
 
"I think the new playground is going to be better and bigger," said Gamble.

You can find the GoFundMe page set-up to help the school by clicking here. Click here to contribute. 

 

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