A new place to play
Bishop Baraga school fundraiser looks to replace aging playground
Bishop Baraga Catholic School in Iron Mountain has launched a fundraising campaign in efforts to replace aged wooden playground equipment. They have set a $20,000 goal, with Dr. John Nowicki pledging to match donations up to $17,000. Students enjoy recess time on the existing wooden play structure — from left, in front are Millie Pelletier, Ada Dennocenzo, Adalina Helms, Hadley Lorenzen, Jessica Gaudette, Mia Payette, Elanor Richardson and Olivia Uhazie; in back are Lola Chouinard, Jackson Houser, Miles Ferguson, Conrad Simms and Joseph Fayas. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
Students enjoy time on the bench on the playground at Bishop Baraga Catholic School — from left are Kandace Schneider, Natalie Kujala and Basia Nowicki. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
Students at recess on the playground at Bishop Baraga Catholic School in Iron Mountain. A campaign has been launched to raise $20,000, with Dr. John Nowicki pledging to match donations up to $17,000, to replace this aging wooden playground equipment. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
Bishop Baraga Catholic School in Iron Mountain has launched a fundraising campaign in efforts to replace aged wooden playground equipment. They have set a $20,000 goal, with Dr. John Nowicki pledging to match donations up to $17,000. Students enjoy recess time on the existing wooden play structure — from left, in front are Millie Pelletier, Ada Dennocenzo, Adalina Helms, Hadley Lorenzen, Jessica Gaudette, Mia Payette, Elanor Richardson and Olivia Uhazie; in back are Lola Chouinard, Jackson Houser, Miles Ferguson, Conrad Simms and Joseph Fayas. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
Students enjoy time on the bench on the playground at Bishop Baraga Catholic School — from left are Kandace Schneider, Natalie Kujala and Basia Nowicki. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
Students at recess on the playground at Bishop Baraga Catholic School in Iron Mountain. A campaign has been launched to raise $20,000, with Dr. John Nowicki pledging to match donations up to $17,000, to replace this aging wooden playground equipment. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Bishop Baraga Catholic School in Iron Mountain is turning to the community to help give its students a new place to play, learn and make memories, launching a fundraising campaign to replace its aging wooden playground structure.
The kindergarten through eighth-grade school has set a goal of raising $20,000, with Dr. John Nowicki pledging to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $17,000.
With the help of Nowicki, whose daughter attends Bishop Baraga, the school is moving closer to its goal of purchasing new playground equipment, Principal Angela Oller said.
The school has raised $8,684.50 through donations from area businesses, community members and parents of BBCS students. With Nowicki's pledge contribution, that brings the total raised to $17,369.
Adding to the total, the school had a pasta fundraiser that raised $2,500, an amount Nowicki also matched.
"We're incredibly grateful to Dr. Nowicki and the amazing community for the support that is allowing us to turn this dream into a reality," Oller said. "We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has donated."
Oller said the existing wooden playground structure has provided years of enjoyment for students, but its age and deterioration have made replacement and improvements necessary.
"When I taught in 1998, it was a newer piece of equipment," Oller said. "I'm unsure of exactly when it was installed, but because of the great condition it was in at that time, I'm assuming it was recent."
"It's been very well-loved and played on," she added.
About five years ago, the school removed several wooden boards to have them replaced, painted and stained in an effort to extend the structure's life. While the school would like to continue maintaining the equipment, some portions have deteriorated to the point they need to be completely dismantled.
The majority of the structure is wood, with the exception of three plastic slides and monkey bars. Oller noted the plastic slides had been replaced in recent years.
Replacing the entire wooden structure with a new one of comparable size could cost more than $100,000, she said. Playground equipment must be built to withstand changing weather conditions and years of use by children, making it a significant investment for the school.
The school is exploring several options for making the playground more functional and enjoyable.
Depending on the amount raised, the school could replace portions of the existing structure, purchase individual pieces of standalone equipment or incorporate new equipment into an updated version of the current playground.
The project has students excited about the possibilities. Oller said Nowicki visited each grade with playground equipment catalogs, allowing students to look through the options and circle the pieces they would like to see.
"They all got to pick out things they like," she said.
Oller also credited Nowicki's involvement, noting his knowledge of playground equipment and expertise have been valuable as the school considers its options.
What ultimately gets purchased will depend on how much money the school raises.
The playground improvements are part of ongoing efforts to enhance the school's outdoor space. The school recently installed a new sandbox and continues to make smaller upgrades as funds become available. The Parent Association has helped fund past repairs to the existing structure, she noted.
Oller said the playground serves more than just Bishop Baraga students. "The neighborhood children also take advantage of the space, so the campaign fundraiser has a much bigger impact," she said.
The school is also looking ahead to additional outdoor recreational opportunities. After purchasing a corner property, officials are considering plans to eventually demolish the house on the property to create more space for children to play sport activities.
"That will be done over time," Oller said.
Older students currently use the existing outdoor area to play football and soccer, she added.
While the school has already made significant progress toward its fundraising goal, Oller said additional community support will be important in making the project a reality.
Although the school initially established a timeline when it planned to purchase just one piece of equipment, it is now focused on raising as much as possible to expand the project.
"We don't have a firm deadline for the fundraiser, but the school would like to purchase equipment over the winter so it can be installed in the spring," Oller said.
Donations can be made through the Bishop Baraga Catholic School website at https://baragaup.com/giving. Donors can designate their contributions for the playground fundraiser through the online giving page. Checks can be dropped off or mailed to the school as well.
"So many generous businesses and individuals have stepped up big for us," she said. "We are looking forward to next spring seeing the project complete."
Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.