​Students enjoying new playground at Ripley-Huron Community School

Students at Ripley-Huron Community School are enjoying their new playground.

Officially unveiled back in the fall, the new equipment was installed through a great community effort, and it was enthusiastically received by the students who immediately began climbing all over it.

During the dedication, Kristy Botden, chairperson of the playground sub-committee, thanked the many people who assisted in the fund-raising efforts, including the School Community Council (SCC) members and staff representatives, especially former principal Wendy Cumming and current principal Susan Jamieson.

The final playground was the culmination of teamwork, dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to ensure that the students had an engaging place to play.

Botden recognized the members of the playground sub-committee, including Vanessa Andrew, Stacy Courtney, Jolene Murphy, Kylie Pike, Erin Scott, Julie Thompson, and Heather Vander Hoek, for their hard work through the many E-mail chains, phone calls, meetings, ideas, listening, researching, advocating and networking.

The project began a number of years ago as a request to replace the swings on the playground, said Botden. It quickly turned into a focus on how to engage a large number of students and fill the gap that existed on the current playground – the Grades 4-8 students.

As the community came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sub-committee kicked its fund-raising into high gear, and set an initial budget of $65,000, with a community fund-raising goal of $25,000.

Then, based on an increase in the cost of supplies, the fund-raising target was increased to $75,000.

With the help of the community, and especially Charles and Taylor Candler of Ainsdale Golf Course, and a private donation of $20,000, the sub-committee exceeded its goal and raised the funds to meet the Dec. 31, 2023, deadline.

Through 50 donors (plus $18,000 from the SCC), the final fund-raising amount was $85,162.68. The donor sign on the playground recognizes the power of community that built this playground.

The private donation of $20,000 came through the family of Elizabeth Danch, a well-respected member of her community in the City of Port Colborne. Along with her husband, who was a city councillor and business owner, Elizabeth’s role in that pairing was that of life-long school, church and hospital volunteer.

The cause closest to her heart was a parent council at her children’s, and grandchildren’s public school. As president for many years (before passing that role onto her daughter), she would lead such events as are held at the Ripley school: creative lunches, Christmas bazaars and fun nights. The goal: raise as much money for the school to better a child’s school experience. She did this weekly until the age of 76.

When Elizabeth passed away at the age of 85, in early January, 2020, her legacy was left behind. And with that, her family sought for a way to honour the very thing that was dearest to her heart: children. Her kindness, generosity, and willingness to help anyone in need, were some of her most important character attributes.

If Elizabeth were here today, you can bet she would be sitting on one of those red benches, watching heaps of children and her great-grandchildren play. After all, they attend school in Ripley. It was the heart of this community, the support of this community, and the acceptance of Ripley-Huron Community School that inspired her family to donate to this cause in her honour.

Following a ribbon-cutting, the playground was officially opened.