SPRING into Fashion
Show to raise funds for Maple East
playground
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter

The Maple East Playground Committee will hold its second annual "Spring into Fashion II" fundraiser at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 26 at the Marriott Hotel, 1340 Millersport Highway, Amherst.

The event will raise funds for a new "community playground" to replace the existing wooden structure built in 1991 at the Maple Road Elementary School.

The Playground Committee was formed last year after Maple East parents learned that the structure had exceeded its life expectancy.

Thus far, approximately $45,000 has been raised toward the project. The committee has also received grants from the Buffalo Bills Youth Foundation, Wal-Mart, the Maple East Parent-Teacher Association and Miracle Playground Equipment.

A total of $124,000 is needed to build the facility.

The fashion show will feature clothing from Talbots, Pumpkins Children's Clothing and Marty's Formal Wear.

The evening will also include Chinese and basket auctions and 50/50 split raffles.

Tickets cost $40 per person or $360 for a table of 10.

"We hope to have (the playground) built by the end of 2007," said committee member Colleen August.

Artist rendition of the new Maple East Elementary School community playground.

The playground will cover approximately 12,000 square feet, about 120 square feet larger than the current structure.

It will include fitness equipment for the physical education classes. The stations may include a jump-up, sit-up, balance beam, body curl, horizontal ladder, vertical climb, parallel bars, push-up, rope climb and hip rotation gear.

The idea is for the structure to be appealing to children of all ages, as well as to be handicapped-accessible.

August noted that members would also like to build a community basketball court because a lot of the students at the school have older siblings who could use the playground. She said it could also be used by youths who live in the surrounding areas.

"My goal is to get a corporate or family sponsor that would like to fund that project," August said. "I'd like to see it go up at the same time."

Those interested in becoming family or corporate sponsors will receive a sign or plaque of appreciation.

For tickets to the fashion show, call Alena Piccilo at 689-2987.