By rdnewsNOW staff

GAGA FOR GAGA BALL

County funding supports new playground equipment at Poplar Ridge School

Jun 3, 2020 | 7:05 AM

RED DEER- Students and community neighbours at Poplar RidgeSchool are set to step up their Gaga game, thanks to funding from Red Deer County.

Gaga Ball is a variation of dodgeball that has become a hugely popular outdoor activity in recent years. It is played in a fenced-in area, which is what the recently-announced $28,684 in Red Deer County funding will help cover.

There will be two Gaga Ball pits constructed at the school – one for grades K-3 and the other for grades 4-6. The school’s basketball court will receive a new concrete pad through the funding, as well.

“Council is very pleased to provide new and improved play areas for children in the Poplar Ridge area,” said Jim Wood, Red Deer County Mayor. “We hope this equipment gets a great deal of use, and allows kids to be happy and healthy as they come out of this difficult time of pandemic.”

The school’s Parent Council is taking the lead on developing the outdoor projects. They submitted the proposal and are volunteering to contribute the labour, including building the new Gaga Ball area and digging up the old basketball court.

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“Our Poplar Ridge families are really engaged and they recognized this project would benefit the entire community,” said Principal Carolynne Muncer. “Some of them are third generation families at Poplar Ridge School, so they have a strong sense of attachment to the school and of giving to the community. The school and the Parent Council provided $3,000 in material, labour and equipment to get the work done. “This is huge for our students. They all love the game, and they’re also really excited to be able to play a game of basketball. It means a lot to our school and to the entire community.”

Ground preparation is already underway and the project is expected to be completed over the summer. Plans are to hold a community celebration at the school, when in-school learning resumes.