FOND DU LAC — At a ribbon cutting Tuesday evening, PTO president Vicki Neumann said the new playground will allow kids in and out of school to stay active through an obstacle course.
![The new obstacle course aims to keep kids active](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fe28995/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3024x4032+0+0/resize/1080x1440!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3b%2F5e%2F9e1e6c924807b34a4e2774e42c7c%2Fimg-0773.jpg)
“We noticed a lot of the playground structures have platforms that kids can sit on,” Neumann said. “And we didn't want that. We wanted something that they were gonna run and play on.”
![Pier Elementary students climb through the playground course](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/185bf97/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/1280x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fed%2F93%2F3851d62e4bf8951cb2fd1df2c442%2Fimg-0777.jpg)
Neumann said in 2020, the principal approached the PTO asking them to look into creating new playground. The existing playground was growing old and needed repairs.
![Kids can climb a rope course at the playground](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4ac0e08/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/1280x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7b%2F78%2F64791fc2473eab6306f4aa1bb7c5%2Fimg-0776.jpg)
The new playground cost an estimated $80,000, and Neumann said more improvements are in the works, including a half mile walking trail around the park.
![The course includes several places for students and local children to climb.](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9a400fa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/1280x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fa0%2F09b4ef724e3fa56ce458068880bd%2Fimg-0774.jpg)