Bayless Intermediate Dedicates New Playground
By Chapman, Tim
August 27, 2010
Students at Bayless Intermediate now have a safe and new playground to enjoy thanks to the generosity of one local business. The Bayless community celebrated the playground’s dedication last week.
The new playground is a project years in the making. Bayless Intermediate teachers and students have been raising funds for the playground over the last three years, but were still far from their goal. The generosity of the McCarthy Building Companies made this dream a reality. Through their “Heart Hats” program, McCarthy donated $25,000 and the labor to install the playground.
“We have all heard the pleas for school supplies and backpacks, but educators also know that providing students with a safe environment to expend extra energy is just as important for overall success,” said Kim Stallons, principal of Bayless Intermediate. “Community partners like McCarthy are critical to making projects like this happen.”
Before this new playground was built, the 450 students at Bayless Intermediate shared only five swings and one tetherball pole. Now, thanks to McCarthy Building Companies, they have a much nicer area in which to play.
Bayless students, parents, teachers and administrators joined representatives from McCarthy and local dignitaries at the playground’s dedication. State Senator Jim Lembke, State Representative Pat Yaeger and representatives from the offices of Senator Claire McCaskill, County Executive Charlie Dooley and the Affton Chamber of Commerce attended the dedication.
