Students and staff at Rosenfeld Elementary School officially welcomed the addition of a new cement pad and wall on Friday.

The $23,000 project came together in less than a full school year, and it couldn't have been done without the help and support of the community, said principal Barb Rempel.

"It's just been great to see how the community has rallied around this project and I think that's part of why it came together so easily and quickly," she said.

The previous cement pad was more than 40 years old and had grass growing through the cracks, which is why it was time for an upgrade, Rempel explained.

Looking ahead, the school yard will also have a new natural playground and trees.

"There's lots of research to indicate that we just benefit from being outside and by being creative and around natural things," Rempel said.

The natural playground will be constructed adjacently to the current playground. The planning committee intends to include a log course, an outdoor classroom with boulders, a berm with a culvert through it, rocks, prairie grasses, trees, and a pathway.

"This playground is also the town park. Kids come back here after hours. Even the grade sixes who know they won't be here to see it to completion are excited about it because if they live in the community they come here anyway and know that they will have an opportunity to spend time here and just recognize that it's good to be around natural things," Rempel said.

Students gather on the cement pad in front of the wall