MONROE- The Salvadore family provides funds for the completion a new playground.
By: Nick D’Amore
MONROE A family in the Barclay Brook School community has come through in a profound way for the students of the elementary school.
The Board of Education announced Wednesday that the Salvadore family had donated $41,000 to the school to completely fund the construction of the playground outside the school.
At the meeting, the board presented the family with a plaque recognizing the generosity of the Salvadore Family Foundation. Also, the family received a framed drawing of the playground they brought to the school.
The Salvadores would not comment on their donation. They have two children who attend Barclay Brook.
Carol Schwalje, principal of Barclay Brook, said the family had come to her at the school’s Back to School night held earlier this year to ask if the school needed anything in particular.
She said the board had already drawn up plans for the playground, but lacked the funds to build it.
Last month, the playground was almost completely finished and now awaits some footing structures before it can be opened up to the students.
"This is really for the kids. The community appreciates it, but they really did it for the kids," said Ms. Schwalje.
The playground includes a slide, bridges and a swing set.
"We put it together with General Recreation Inc., our gym teacher and myself. We thought about what the kids would really want," she said.
She said the children at the school have been watching the construction of the playground, greatly anticipating its grand opening.
"This is a wonderful thing. It feels so good when somebody does something like this," she said.