Students at the Shevchenko School in Vita are enjoying their brand new playground equipment that was installed just days before school started this year.

Principal Peter Osadchuk says they had been working on raising money for the new playground project for nearly five years.

"When we started counting the cost it was supposed to be anywhere between $75,000 and $100,000, and thanks to some generous fundraising by our PAC and the Borderland School Division's contribution, we still came up a bit short."

Osadchuk says when they initially applied for the Community Places Grant, they were denied. "We sort of appealed it and they came out to have a look. They changed their minds and decided to give us $15,000."

The previous play structure built in 1998 was beyond repair according to Osadchuk, and it was torn down to make room for the new one. He says there are many new features and elements the old structure didn't have.

The new structure includes features like a climbing rock, fire pole, gyro twister, climbing bridge with handles, a boogie board, and climbing bars. Osdachuk says the students are really enjoying the new structure, and they are grateful for the Community Places Grant.