Columbiana Project Playground board members turning the dirt Wednesday at the groundbreaking for a new playground at Firestone Park. Pictured from left are Mallory DeMaiolo, Lauren Wiley, Fritz Nelson, Stephanie Kale, Lauren Halverstaft and Michaela Good. The hope is that Phase I of the project will be completed in May before the school year concludes. (Submitted photo)

COLUMBIANA — The time is now if you ask volunteers with the Columbiana Project Playground effort.

The playground equipment for Phase I of the new, improved Funland has been received and unloaded, but the fundraising continues.

According to Michaela Good, CPP president, the non-profit still has until April 1 to collect another $100,000 in needed funds for completion of Phase I, including installation of the turf base in Firestone Park.

Board members officially broke ground on the project Wednesday, almost a week after truckloads of playground equipment began arriving.

However, before the donning of the pink hardhats and the shoveling began, organizers had some decisions to make in regards to several trees that had been losing branches at the site of the former Funland, where they had planned to erect the new playground.

The initial Funland was installed in Firestone Park in 1995 and torn down earlier this winter to make room for the new one.

The trees quickly became a safety concern, when during a routine meeting onsite with a professional tree company and a horticulturalist, a large branch fell from one of the pin oak trees and landed just inches from the playground team.

With that in mind, committee members made the difficult decision to remove the trees, replacing them with mature replacement trees.

“The goal is to complete Phase I in May, so schools can use the playground for their end-of-the-year picnics,” Good explained.

So far, CPP has raised $600,000 toward the new inclusive playground’s completion

Columbiana city manager Lance Willard announced during council’s first regular meeting of March that city officials have applied for $525,000 from the State Capital budget, which would complete the Zip Line and a building containing ADA restrooms and a classroom for the project.

Good elaborated on the partnership with the city, adding that the money would potentially be expected in July — much later for use during Phase I but also would allow for the inclusion of adult-sized changing tables in the restrooms.

CPP is still seeking donations — both monetary or in-kind to complete the project. For those wishing to help with the project or donate funds, checks can be mailed to CPP, P.O. Box 156; Columbiana, OH 44408 or made through the non-profit’s website, playatfirestone.com.