Parents for playgrounds

Hard financial times have forced school districts to put the burden of purchasing playgrounds on to parents, who have had to raise more than $100,000 to build structures for their children to enjoy. Deer Ridge Elementary School parents have tasked themselves with raising $150,000 to replace a 17-year-old wooden playground they say doesn't comply with state or federal safety guidelines. "If you can imagine what a deck would look like on the back of your house with 500 kids playing on it every day, it gets a little wear and tear," said Kathy O'Shaughnessy, one of two parents coordinating the fundraising effort. Southwest Allen County Schools is giving the school $50,000, which barely covers the cost of the structure. It doesn't cover shipping, installation, groundwork or landscaping.

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