PARISHVILLE — Faculty, staff and a few community members have come together to form the playground fund committee — a group aimed at getting a new playground for the pupils of Parishville-Hopkinton Elementary School.

Elementary Principal Brooke L. Reid said an exact cost for the new playground hasn’t been determined yet, but she told board of education members last week that new playground equipment is not cheap and could range anywhere from $60,000 to $130,000.

“We have plans to meet with a playground designer in the future, but we wanted to get started,” she said.

So far the group has held a school mall fundraiser, and it is holding a drawing for several themed gift baskets.

“We’ve got plans to do more in the spring,” she said, referring to another round of gift basket drawings.

While the group may have begun fundraising this year, Ms. Reid said, she wants to make sure people realize a new playground isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight.

“This is a really long-range goal,” she said. “I could see this taking years to raise enough money, but I feel we had to get started somewhere and now is as good a time as any.”

Referring to the need for a new playground, Ms. Reid said that’s something the community has been aware of for years.

“There’s been so many advances with playground equipment in terms of safety and getting physically fit,” she said. “A swing just isn’t the most effective way for students to get exercise and entertain themselves.”

Ms. Reid said the community’s response so far has been fantastic.

“The community has been very positive,” she said. “A lot of people have said, ‘No, I don’t need any raffle tickets, I just want to give the money to the community.’”

In addition to the fundraising, Ms. Reid said, several community members already have made donations, and letters soliciting help are being sent to area businesses and organizations.

Anyone interested in making a contribution or serving on the committee is asked to call Ms. Reid at 265-4642.

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