What was once a thought will soon be a reality – Boothbay Region Elementary School will be getting a new playground and the schedule shows it being ready by the first day of school.

It will be right outside the back of BRES just behind the tennis courts and will have an expansive “free play” area for children to run, jump and play games.

Assistant Principal Tricia Campbell said many teachers and parents have said they like the spot for its vantage point overlooking nearly the entire campus. Parents, relatives and friends will be able to view sports games from the new playground and view the playground from the tennis courts.

"This is for our youngest population and the largest number of kids we would have at any ... time would be in the morning and we're talking about 50 kids, so it's a really big space for all those little guys."

In 2016, the Parent Teacher Organization said the playground equipment and structures were in poor condition and that something should be done about finding resources to replace the playground. The PTO started researching companies and prices for a new and attractive place for the region's children to enjoy.

"What they realized with their research and all their hard work was that this was a very big undertaking and an extremely costly venture," said Campbell.

In November, the PTO met with the CSD Board of Trustees to review the findings and see if the project could be handed off. Former Superintendent Eileen King suggested Campbell take on the project as there was enough interest among the parents, teachers and public.

Campbell talked with physical education and special education teachers and most of the teachers at BRES. The end product brought before the Trustees involved two phases – three pre-kindergarten through second grade playgrounds and three third through eighth grade playgrounds, to choose from for each group.

The Trustees, with many budget constraints and campus upkeep demands, found room in a recent loan to do the first phase for up to $30,000. The PTO also came back to Campbell with a donation of $3,025 which will cover the a double-bay swingset and the preparation and landscaping around the apparatus. Shortly before the Trustees’ blessing, Ann Demeranville of the Rotary Club of Boothbay Harbor asked how it could help. Campbell showed the volunteers from the Rotary the three possible phase one projects and, like the teachers she spoke with, the Rotary favored the third and most expensive option of the bunch.

Demeranville came back to Campbell and said the Rotary wanted to donate $5,400 from fundraising, to help with landscaping and site preparation, and to paint a large map of the United States for interactive activities. Additionally, the Rotary told Campbell it was requesting $5,000 from the Rotary Foundation.

"I was just so overwhelmed and so grateful because it was clear that this was a real possibility. It was no longer a dream or a conversation," said Campbell. "I am also thrilled and excited that we have had the opportunity to work with the Rotary. Ann Demeranville has been wonderful … and it is clear the Rotary is committed to supporting the community, school and families!"

The only concern left for Campbell, the PTO and the schools is about the lack of a fence around the play areas. Campbell is still awaiting quotes for fencing, but is certain it will not be cheap. The fence is not required, but it would be nice to have a safety barrier between play areas and the tennis courts and parking lot, Campbell said.

"I think parents and community members would have greater peace of mind if there was just sort of that barrier in place," said Campbell.

Teachers Kate Rice and Barb Crocker said they are both excited for their students about having a new playground especially in an area that is much better sheltered from the elements during winter.

“My pre-K students have had limited time and access to the playground that we have currently, so we're going to be able to utilize the new playground a lot more often which is important for the young children's development,” Rice said. I think it's going to be much more age-appropriate for them and a lot more usable than the current space … It's not an outdoor classroom, but it's the idea of that. We're all very excited about it.”