Community friends make Woodcrest Elementary sport court a reality
Drive by Woodcrest Elementary during the school day, evenings, or weekends and you'll see a lot of happy kids using the school's newly-installed and dedicated outdoor "sport court." This popular new venue would not be possible without the staff and volunteers of nearby Emmanuel Christian Center and Hoffman Weber Construction, two of the school's Fridley neighbors.
Several months ago, David Nithang, a youth pastor and one of school's student mentorship partners from Emmanuel Christian Center (ECC) learned of the school's desire for additional playground equipment and stepped forward to offer ECC's help. So did Joe Hoffman, president of Hoffman Weber, who grew up not far from Woodcrest Elementary.
From there things really started rolling, and one day the school received word of Hoffman's company offering to cover the approximately $5,000 cost of a 40 X 60-foot sport court made of colorful honeycombed plastic. Volunteers from Emmanuel Christian and Hoffman Weber eagerly pitched in to help install the court after Custom Construction Services poured the concrete base at no cost.
Mr. Hoffman also donated soccer goals and physical education equipment to the school.
The project began in August, was completed in mid-September, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the project, the donor, and the volunteers was held on October 11. Present was the entire student body and staff of Woodcrest Elementary, and many of the project's proud volunteers who accepted the thanks of all the students, and listened as students read their heartfelt thank-you letters.
Woodcrest students have been thrilled to use the new facility during physical education classes and recess, and it gets constant use form the surrounding school community during evening and weekend hours.