North Dakota’s Muddiest Playground? Wilkinson Elementary Needs Your Help!

I just saw this on the Williston Herald Facebook page and decided to reach out to Jovana Evans from the Wilkinson PTO to help get the word out about this project. If you’ve been up past Wilkinson Elementary recently, you may have seen all the water on the playground. After a good rain or a spring thaw, you might think the school has an unexpected waterfront view. Unfortunately, that’s not a scenic lake.

What Is The Issue

There's so much water on the playground these days, students and teachers are now calling it Wilkinson Lake. Thanks to poor drainage in the area and some overly ambitious gophers, the playground turns into a mud pit, making recess a slippery adventure for kids and a laundry nightmare for parents.

But that’s not all. The playground equipment is over 30 years old and in desperate need of an upgrade. It’s time to step up as help is needed to give the kids a safe, dry, and fun place to play!

How Are They Fixing It?

Enter our local superhero, without a cape This here doesn't fly, he runs! It's the school's principal, Reo Boston! This man is so dedicated to the school and the cause that he’s literally going to run to raise some funds. He’s taking on a 24-hour run, starting April 10 at 2 PM and going until April 11 at 2 PM. Yes, you read that right. Whether he’s powered by determination or a lot of coffee, many will be there to cheer him on! Here's an opportunity to make a pledge for every mile he runs. If he makes 30 miles, that would be a $300.00 donation. That could add up pretty fast!

How You Can Help

• Join the Ice Cream Social!  Swing by on April 10 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM to support Mr. Boston and enjoy a sweet treat!

• Donate! Cash, checks, Venmo, CashApp, PayPal—they’ll take it all! Every bit gets them closer to the goal.

• Get competitive! The class that raises the most money wins a Movie Day—so kids, start those fundraising engines!

For questions, reach out to Jovana Evans from the PTO committee. Her phone number is 701-770-3348. Here's our chance to come together as a community and turn Wilkinson Lake back into a playground for students at Wilkinson Elementary—gopher-free and full of playing, laughter, and some safety too!