Senator Saland Announces Funding For The Elm Drive Playground

Senator Steve Saland (R,C Poughkeepsie) today announced that he has secured $10,000 for the Elm Drive Elementary School. The funding will be combined with money raised by the Elm Drive Playground Committee to replace current unsafe structures with up-to-date safe and handicapped accessible playground equipment for the children at Elm Drive Elementary School and the community of Millbrook.

"We know how important education is to Senator Saland and we appreciate his support of our efforts to reach this goal of building a new playground for the community of Elm Drive," said Karen Fitzgerald, Principal of Elm Drive Elementary School and Treasurer of the Elm Drive Playground Committee. "In addition to the 250 school children it serves, this playground is also used by community children and visitors. As part of our fundraising efforts, we had support from local parents, children, teachers and members of the community who were willing to donate their time, construction equipment and landscaping expertise to us. Thank you, again, to Senator Saland for his support and his commitment to our children."

Fitzgerald said the Elm Drive Playground Committee worked for over a year to make the playground a reality. Through grants and fundraising efforts, the Committee raised approximately $65,000 to create a handicapped accessible playground so that children with special needs could have the opportunity to play with their peers.

"I am pleased to have secured funding to enable the new Elm Drive playground to be constructed," said Senator Saland. "I am proud to join in the efforts of so many parents and local Millbrook residents. The new playground will benefit not only the children who attend the school, but the greater community as well."