Mars considers playground proposal, continues project push

ADAMS TWP — Mars Area School District’s board of education is pushing forward with ongoing projects and proposals.

In addition to the Mars Area Elementary School renovation project and proposed Centennial school project, the board also received a proposal for new playgrounds at the elementary school during its Tuesday, Nov. 10 meeting.

Mars Area Elementary playgrounds

Steven Baker, a representative with playground equipment supplier Snider Recreation, gave a presentation to the board on potentially building two new playground areas at the elementary school.

The bigger of the two would be shaped like a space rocket, embracing the identity of the district, Baker said.

The proposal, according to Baker, could cost around $324,000. Cost-saving options could lower that by nearly $40,000.

Elementary school project

With progress continuing over the past month, the district plans to have the elementary school renovation done by next August, in time for the 2027-28 school year.

“Everything that was planned was completed with the exception of energizing the new generator, which was completed on Nov. 6. We did a test on it, everything’s passed,” said Carrie Crawford of Thomas & Williamson Program Management.

Over the past month, Crawford said, the district has completed line-striping and concrete curbs in the parking lots, work in the lobby, kitchen and cafeteria areas, energizing a new switch gear generator, asphalt paving along Little Dipper access road and Doc’s Way, installation and landscaping work, site grading for the new drop-off loop and more.

“For the building, we will look to be able to mobilize the crane for the structural steel installation. We received the first couple of trucks for structural steel,” Crawford said. “It was scheduled to be here on the ninth. Due to some unforeseen delays, it is now scheduled to be here on Nov. 23. We are also to receive the delivery of the steel decking, and that date remains intact. And then begins the structural steel erection of the three-story structure.”

Centennial school

Crawford said during Tuesday night’s meeting that project overseers had a meeting with its new architect, Roth Marz. The district expects to have a presentation on design proposals to the board at its January meeting.

“We have gotten very preliminary drawings, but I think we’re in a good spot. They’re going to make some changes to things, and on Dec. 10 we’re going to meet with them again, go over things, and then put together preliminary estimates,” Crawford said.

Mars considers playground proposal, continues project push

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