After two years of nothing but pavement to play on, the elementary students at Whitmire Community School now have plenty of bright-colored equipment.

“We haven’t had a slide in a really long time and it’s all really fun,” says third grader, Ben Burleson. “The wall climbing and the monkey bars are pretty cool, too.”

When renovations at the Whitmire school started two years ago, workers tore down all the playground equipment. The students have been playing on the basketball court with balls ever since until now.

For some of the younger students, it’s the first time they ever been on playground equipment at school. For the older classes who remember the old equipment, the new sets are like a reward for their patience in waiting.

“Having this new equipment brought a totally new experience for most of them,” says Lindsey Arrington, assistant principal of the elementary portion of Whitmire Community School.

For three days last month, students watched workers construct their new playground. Then, during the last week in January, Whitmire fourth graders stepped outside to play and became the first to use the new equipment.

“One hour earlier, the 20-foot sail roof was installed with the help of a local boom truck. With the sail roof, the structure can be sunny and shady at the same time,” says Arrington.

The structure was designed for students up to fifth grade and has a rock-climbing wall, crunch bar, cross beams, clover leaf climber and three different slides.

But the best thing about the equipment is its color, says first-grader Jacob Gilliam.

The structure was designed with the school’s beloved blue and gold to represent Whitmire Community School, says Arrington.

“I think it’s really colorful with its Wolverine colors,” says Burleson.