After waiting more than three years, students at Little Miami Intermediate School will soon enjoy a playground during recess.

When Little Miami Intermediate opened in 2009, the district had spent little on the outside grounds. With the district’s subsequent financial challenges, resources were not available to build a playground, school officials said.

Through the years, the building has served third through sixth grade students, who have played outside during recess on the rear blacktop parking lot. Marla Timmerman, in her first year as principal at LMIS, hoped to provide these students with something more.

“School playgrounds provide students with more than just a place to play,” she said. “Our fifth- and sixth-graders are in school all day. The playground will offer them social interaction and development, fresh air, a break from the classroom and physical exercise.”

This past fall, Timmerman met with the school’s parent-teacher organization to discuss purchasing playground equipment. A few months later, a Little Miami family approached Timmerman. The family, who requested anonymity, has two students currently in the district; one attending the intermediate school and one at Salem Twp. Elementary School.

After receiving the family’s donation of nearly $6,000, the LMIS PTO decided to match the donation with $8,000, helping to expand the project.

Laura Loftin, president of the school’s PTO, said the group “decided to help with this project because there is a high amount of interest in students, as well as parent inquiry about having a playground at the intermediate school.”

Timmerman then presented options to the fifth and sixth grader students to vote on which equipment they wanted as part of the playground. Top vote getters were swings and a “neutron spinner.” Along with these, two funnel ball pieces, a double chin-up bar and possibly a balance beam will be installed.

“I think it’s going to be pretty good because we haven’t had a playground. It’s definitely an improvement in the right direction,” said sixth-grader Nathan Schwartz

Superintendent Greg Power said the district was grateful for the donations from the PTO and the family.

“We are humbled by the generosity of this Little Miami family and the continued unwavering support from our PTOs,” he said. “This wonderful project will be enjoyed by Little Miami students for many years to come.”

The playground is expected to be installed during the district’s spring break in late March.