Students at Bethlehem Elementary School celebrate after receiving a check for $5,000 for their playground from Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church. In front, from left, are students Lilly Filby, Sophia Trabert and Lincoln Roberts. In the second row , Jody Werner, Bethlehem PTO President Melanie Trabert and Sue Lane Johnson. Shown in the back row are Eydie Garvin, Pastor John Harris, Bethlehem Principal Drew Villani, and Bill Syphers and Bob Menge. (Photo Provided)

At Bethlehem Elementary School, the playground there consists of only one basketball hoop and the asphalt there is deteriorating, according to Principal Drew Villani.

He said when he took over as principal at the start of the school year he had a top priority to get a project started to construct a new playground.

So far, about $97,500 has been raised toward the $260,000 needed to purchase, deliver and install new playground equipment. Beyond that, the playground would need to be asphalted, adding another $150,000 to the price tag for the project, according to Villani.

He broke down the cost for the work as follows:

– Burke Playground equipment: $125,360

– Freight: $6,000

– Installation of equipment/dig footer: $56,000

– Mixed and Poured-in-place Rubber/Urethane Surface under playground equipment: $70,440

– Asphalt paving of older kids’ playground & parking lot area: $150,000

In total, the total price tag for the project is expected to be $407,800, Villani said.

Equipment planned for a small playground area in the rear includes various climbing pieces, a rope climber and an inclusive spinner. A larger side area, meanwhile, would include a GaGa Ball Pit, P6Ball, ricochet rings, and two 8-foot picnic tables.

Villani said fundraising at the school so far has consisted of a steak fry and pepperoni roll sales.

Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church this week donated $5,000 to the project, while the J.B. Chambers Foundation has pledged $50,000 as a matching grant.

Villani said now that the school year has concluded he plans to approach both the Ohio County Commission and Bethlehem Village Council for additional contributions.

He pointed out that similar school playground projects such as the one at Woodsdale Elementary School received more than $40,000 from the city of Wheeling for their efforts. That funding is not possible for Bethlehem Elementary, as it is not located within the city limits, Villani explained.

A breakdown of the project can be viewed at llv.my.canva.site, where a pledge form can be downloaded, or a donor may scan a QR code there to make a contribution.