Equal access playground installation begins

It’s the story of a community that came together to build an equal access playground for the students of a school in a rural Idaho town.

Midway Elementary is home to most of the special needs kids in the Menan area, so under the direction of the PTO, a fundraising effort began to build an equal access playground all the children could use.

And this week, after nearly two years of fundraisers to reach the $70,000 price tag –success. Work began on the new playground.

“It’s overwhelming,” said Mckelle Bronson, the former PTO president who spearheaded the effort. “I never thought it would happen in two years. It’s amazing how much the community has been supportive. The City of Menan has helped out a ton, people in the community, businesses in the community.”

Volunteers are doing some of the work. Even the mayor a fire chief pitched in.

Students can hardly wait for the project to be completed.

“I am excited for the new playground,” 6th grader Bryan Dunn said.

“It will have more opportunities for more of the kids that really couldn’t do some of the stuff,” 5th grader Saidie Scott said.

“There’s slide and climbing walls and all this fun stuff,” Kindergartener Jeannie Bateman said.

There will be a ribbon cutting for the new playground Tuesday August 8 at 10 a.m. The public is invited.