The Luce School is much closer to getting the funds needed to install a new playground.

To date, the Luce Playground Fund has raised $28,000 toward the project, Luce CAPT President Eileen Chaput told the School Committee this week. The group has been raising funds since August, through several different fundraisers including The Varsity Girls concert last month, which brought in close to $5,000.

Last weekend, they held a Luce Project Playground Fundraiser at the Knights of Columbus Hall, which featured auctions, raffles, food and music. The night out for adults raised over $12,000, Chaput said.

“It was a great event and we felt like there was such a varied response,” the CAPT president said of the crowd of school parents, supporters and community members that attended. “It was just a great time.”

The Playground Fund needs to raise up to $40,000 to build a new playground on the lower field. The group is working with three vendors to get renderings and quotes.

“We set our goal at $40,000,” Chaput told the School Committee. “But we can get a decent playground for $30,000.

School Committee Chair Reuki Schutt thanked the group for their efforts. “Thank you for the hard work you are doing, you are benefitting the whole community. It’s going to be cool. It’s a great thing.”

CAPT has reached out the Luce teachers, special education teachers and therapists at the school for advice on what needs to be installed. This is important because "we have a really big special education population at the Luce," Chaput said. "We want to make sure we incorporate that (feedback) into the playground."

"The playground is great for the kids, school and community," Christine Trendell, president of the Playground Fund said. "It promotes physical activity, cooperation and outdoor play.  We will especially be looking at ways to incorporate equipment for the special needs population. It is a win-win for everyone."

The plan is to raise the funds, purchase the equipment, and have folks in the community pitch in to build it. The goal is to have the playground ready for September.

The Luce CAPT had to ask the School Committee for approval to build the playground, but they are not seeking any funds from the committee or the town. Once a design has been chosen, the Playground Fund will go to the Zoning Board for approval.

Folks interested in making a donation can send checks to the Luce School and mark it as a playground donation. For more information on donating, contact Christine Trendell, chair of the playground fund, at ctrendell@hotmail.com