A brand-new playground is coming to Simpson Elementary in time for school to start this fall, thanks in large part to the efforts of and donations from the community.

The latest came from the Antero Foundation, which presented the school with $25,000 on Thursday, to a roar from the second- and third-graders assembled on the hill by the current school playground.

“It’s been a year and a half in the making,” Simpson assistant principal Jeovanna Comer said. “This is our first experience even trying to come up with creating a playground and the finances and creating a timeline. We had a lot of wonderful people that we would not be able to do this without.”

“I don’t think I can hear,” Antero Foundation board member Stephanie Hayhurst-Hall laughed after the presentation. “They were very happy. That is just a delight to see. Any time you see a child smiling, laughing, excited, I think it all makes us have a warm place in our hearts.”

“It’s so rewarding to see how excited the kids were to be receiving new equipment. We’re just thrilled to be partners with Simpson Elementary on this project,” Antero public affairs coordinator Stephanie J. Goff said.

Through the foundation’s website, Simpson Elementary applied for the grant, which was then reviewed by the board.

“This playground project really fit our initiatives and what we’re trying to accomplish through the Antero Foundation,” Hayhurst-Hall said.

Once school ends in early June, the wheels will be rapidly be in motion.

“Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to come in and remove and dispose of the old equipment, which is going to be a huge help,” Comer said. “Our Board of Education is going to come and extend this wall and level the surface, which is a nice big slope right now. So that will help with safety issues.”

All the equipment has been ordered and will be brought to the site once the space is ready.

“The pre-K playground is going to have a nice jungle gym with a little teepee on there to represent (the school’s mascot) the Little Indians. We’re going to have brand-new swings,” Comer said. “I think the biggest thing is having a large space for them to do kickball and throw the football because, right now, they’re running in between equipment. I think that will help out to maximize and reach all of the grade levels.”

The playground became even more of a need when a multi-purpose room was recently constructed to allow students to have an area other than the cafeteria for indoor athletic activities, but it took the space of the outdoor pre-K playground in the process.

“They have been utilizing this (current playground) all year. It’s not really developmentally appropriate for pre-K kids, so they kind of can now make their own little play area for safety,” Comer said.

“The Antero Foundation believes that strong communities start with strong schools,” Goff said. “This isn’t just new playground equipment. This is an investment in local children and education and opportunities for play and creativity. We believe that every child deserves to have safe, appropriate areas to play in and to grow and learn.”