Playground installations are a bit like old-fashioned barn raisings -- folks from all parts of the community come together to build what needs to be built.

This past Saturday, a new playground was raised at Colonial Hills Elementary School.

The contributors to the project were the school's PTA, which raised the money; 20 members of the Dublin-Worthington Rotary Club, who worked all day to build the intricate structure; teachers, who worked alongside Rotarians; and local business people, who contributed money and food to the cause.

"It has been a real community thing," said Kelly Johnson, past president of the Colonial Hills PTA.

The organization decided about two years ago that the $9,500 in its coffers needed to go toward new equipment for the playground in the rear of the school, which had been without a play structure for about six years.

When the PTA realized that $9,500 would not go far toward purchasing a a modern piece of equipment, it set out to raise money. Within a year-and-a-half, it had raised $26,000.

Some of that came from donations at the school's 50-year anniversary celebration held last February.

The school district loaned the PTA the last $5,000, and the structure was purchased.

"I think our PTA has done more than I could ever imagine," said Colonial Hills principal George Joseph as he took a short break from assembling pieces of equipment on Saturday.

Living without a playground for third- and fourth-graders has been a scheduling nightmare, he said. They spent part of their recesses on the playground designed for older kids, part on the one for younger students.

"I think the kids are chomping at the bit," he said. "It's long overdue."

Joseph said he was also grateful for the work of the Rotarians, who toiled all day.

The club also contributed $1,000 toward the project, as did local real estate agent Cynthia MacKenzie.

Buckeye Subs and Panera Bread at Crosswoods provided breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

An old-fashioned ribbon cutting will be held in the fall.