There are a few basic reasons for improvement projects of school playgrounds. The primary reason is safety standards. Older playgrounds are made to outdated standards that are often not as high as modern standards. Similarly, worn out, damaged or broken playgrounds, whether old or new, need replacement for safety reasons. In some schools, the reasons for improvement projects are as simple as not having playground equipment for the students in the first place.
The cost of playground improvement projects varies based on the geographic location and the amount of work needed. In general, costs can range between $30,000 and $100,000.
Elementary schools raise funds through a variety of sources. Schools often budget a portion of their funds to improvement projects the school might need, including playground improvement, though budgets are often limited. Schools run fundraisers for businesses, parents or other interested parties. Fundraisers vary depending on the school, but might include a breakfast or dinner event, or more typically car washes and bake sales. Generally, schools use several fundraisers to bring in the money needed for playground improvements. The other method of raising funds is through grants. Schools apply to grants like the Nike Donations or Peaceful Playgrounds to gain extra funding for the playground.
Parents or local businesses can volunteer to help with the project in various ways. Volunteers might help in fundraising for the playground, such as grant writing or setting up fundraisers at their place of business. Volunteers who are skilled in playground construction can help in the construction process to bring down some of the labor costs involved. Volunteers can even help with beautification after the playground is completed to help improve the appearance around the playground.