Published: May 12, 2008 11:06 pm      

School set to begin playground project

Students at Our Mother of Sorrows School soon will be spending more time outdoors.

Pupils and administrators will gather Wednesday to break ground for a 2,500-square-foot playground being built behind the church along Tioga Street in Westmont Borough.

“OMOS has never had a playground,” said Anne McGrath, a parent volunteer working on the project.

“And with all the attention these days on wellness and obesity and getting into better shape, we believed it was time to have one at the school,” she said.

The playground is expected to open by early September.

McGrath cited growing enrollment numbers as another reason to have a play area.

“We’ve experienced quite a bit of growth in the primary grades, so we are responding to that need,” she said.

The project has an estimated price of $25,000, so McGrath said a committee applied for grants to help with costs.

“We applied for grants that integrate health and wellness and have an academic side to it,” she said.

The school received $10,000 from the Ronald McDonald House Charities, which is dependent on a $7,500 match.

McGrath said the match requirement is nearly met and that various fundraising projects continue.

Other donations have come from Johnstown Brewing Co., which will host a two-week fundraiser from May 17-31 in which 10 percent of each food bill will go to the project.

Pizza Hut in Westmont also has donated money.

In addition to the playground, plans call for restoration of a spiritual and meditative garden that will be dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

“Parishioners and parents heard about the project and donated money in memory of their mothers,” McGrath said.

“Restoring the Marian Shrine will give kids and the community a meditation space, and it will overlook the playground.”

Decisions about equipping the playground have not been finalized, but McGrath said other play areas will serve as inspiration.

“Of course it will be based on funding, but we want the playground to enhance the curriculum here.”