The Blackie School modernization is getting an extra addition, a new playground.

Foothills School Board Chair Theresa Letendre is thrilled with the news.

"When the Blackie modernization funding announcement was given to us, they had included funding for a playground to the tune of $250,000 so the community jumped on that, the school council and the fundraising society started to actively fundraise counting on this money," she explained. "It's unique because usually modernizations don't get funding for playgrounds, it's typically reserved for new builds, so this went back to the desk of the (Education) minister for awhile and we were reaching out periodically to see if that funding was still on the table and they assured us that it was and we just received notification that it has been finalized and the minister has sent the $250,000 for the Blackie school playground."

The fundraising society and the school council have worked with a playground company and have a quote for the work which they're anxious to submit because costs keep rising almost every day.

"It's relatively a quick turnaround once that money  is finalized so I think the goal is to get it ready to go before the September official re-opening of Blackie school.