The new slides are better because they go in circles, Lindsey said.

Lindsey is a second grader at the Carbondale Parrish Elementary School, where a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held today at 9 a.m. to celebrate the new playground equipment that has been built.

Parrish is one of six schools that have received new equipment or playing areas in the Carbondale area, according to John Williams, Assistant Superintendent of District 95.

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This playground is a real benefit for the community, and not just for the students involved, Donna Manering, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Carbondale Elementary School District 95, said.

Parrish, Lewis, and Lakeland schools all received new playground equipment, and Lincoln, Thomas, and Winkler schools have all received new asphalt for their basketball courts and playgrounds.

All six schools have received some kind of site improvement, Williams said.

The money for the new equipment came from the purchase of Attucks and Glendale Schools, with Glendale being purchased by the Headstart Agency at SIUC.

Williams said that this is the first time a new playground has been built for some of the schools in about 40 years.

The students, oblivious to all of the money, only know that their new playground is much better than the old one.

Mya Morris, a second grader at Parrish, said The old slide only went straight, but this one is curly, and goes fast. And if you go on it enough times, you can shock other people when you touch them.

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You start with the ground work, Williams said, and then work up to the future.