Tryon Elementary School students returned from Christmas break to new playground equipment, thanks to funding from the Tryon Kiwanis Club, the Polk County Community Foundation, Tryon Elementary PTA, Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce and Game Time Playground manufacture grants.

The equipment was installed last week and included a completely new playground. Volunteers with the Tryon Kiwanis Club, PTA and Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity began installing the equipment last Tuesday on site.

Materials were also donated for the project by Hensons Inc. and Tryon Lumber with refreshments for the volunteers donated by Eloise Johnson.

Equipment was also donated to install the equipment by Rental Service Corp, out of Greenville, S.C., Diane Terceira of Terceira Farm and Dr. Joe Picone.

The project to have a new playground for students began about two years ago as a joint project between the Tryon Kiwanis Club and the Tryon PTA. Fundraising was done over the course of two years as well as obtaining the local grants. Alan Snyder volunteered to be the construction manager of the project and spent endless hours obtaining specialized equipment that was needed.

A committee was formed of George Alley, Stacy Stechshulte and Dr. Joe Picone, who also spent many hours over the past two years planning, raising money and applying for grants to coordinate the project.

Organizers also recognized the help of Tryon Elementary School Principal Walker Williams, who was with the groups every step of the way.