Why a crucial piece of playground equipment is missing from an Eagle Mountain School

Eagle Mountain, Utah – When you swing as high as you can at the playground as a child, you might have had the impression that you were flying.

For the past year, students at Eagle Mountain school have not been able to have that experience, and now the community is coming together to donate a swing set.

Jenny Anderson, President of the Parent Teacher Association at Eagle Valley Elementary School, clarified that the school is in a holding pattern following the design of a new playground and the purchase of swings more than a year ago.

“Our principal had set up a company who was going to donate time and supplies,” Anderson said, “And because of the economy, they weren’t able to do it after all.”

The neighborhood decided to act and raised money to have the swings installed.

“Last time I checked, we were just over $7,000, which is really exciting, because a lot of people said we couldn’t do it,” Anderson reflected.

The school is currently roughly $1,000 short of its target.

A father of three is currently developing a digital solution to assist.

Former PTA member Steven Acker decided to set up a GoFundMe page.

Recess was a lot of fun for Acker as a child, and he wanted future generations to experience the same happiness.

“From what I’ve been told, this is the last chance to get the swings,” Acker explained. “I thought maybe if I started the GoFundMe and got some help outside of our community then hopefully, we would get the money.”

Anderson stated that there are just three days left to raise the remaining funds. Still, she feels optimistic.

“I had a student bring me three pennies,” she said emotionally. “They’re like, ‘This is all I can find.’ Well, this helped bring in the swings and brought me to tears…They made a big difference to me and made a big difference to those students. So, anything and everything that we can get, it’s going to help.”