TIFTON, GA (WALB) - A school playground in Tifton will soon be getting a 21st century makeover.
Len Lastinger Primary School received a $20,000-dollar grant to buy new playground equipment when they won a video contest.
About 140 videos were submitted nationwide, and the Parent Teacher Organization Grants Committee Co-Chair, Debby Monfort, said her school was one out of five finalists to walk away with the grant.
After years of decay, Monfort remarked the play area was so old that many of the parents played on the same equipment.
Monfort explained splinters were the number one injury on the playground.
"We just didn't have enough to make the dream of a new playground happen," said Monfort.
Having raised $10,000 with the help of the community, she said a PTO member came across Kaboom's Let's Play video contest.
They submitted the "Are You Smarter than a Len Lastinger Bee" video, and the power of social media came in handy.
"We had folks sharing it all over their business sites," said Monfort.
Starting two years ago, Principal Richard Fisher said the makeover has been in the works to bring a fresh look to students and neighborhood kids.
"I think traditionally speaking schools have always been a part of a healthy environment community and it's no different here," said Fisher.
It will have smart technology to promote teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills.
"It really is the effort and hard work of the entire board of moms who just wanted to make something better," explained Monfort.
Monfort said right now they're putting together a blueprint of the playground which includes all of the kids' wishes.
Then they plan to have a community build day for the playground in the fall.
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