JAY – Because of a reduction in year-end prices and a new model, there is enough money to begin ordering new equipment for the Jay Elementary School playground.

The initial goal was to raise $50,000 to pay for equipment to replace that deemed unsafe.

Now, Judy Diaz, chairman of the Playground Committee, said the goal is to raise $33,500 for equipment for students and younger children.

The price is from a different company that has marked down its inventory for clearance, she said.

With fundraisers and donations from businesses, the group had $26,540 as of Thursday morning, Diaz said. That’s enough to order the first of the equipment, once the school’s insurance company declares it meets its safety criteria.

The first pieces will include monkey bars, slides, platforms and other structures for $23,999 plus shipping and installation, which will total about $26,000, Diaz said.

Community members including children and parents washed cars this month to raise $535, sold raffle tickets for a snowblower to raise about $2,600 and held a penny drive to bring in $980.

Businesses have also provided support with $5,000 from Bob Bahre, $5,000 from Androscoggin Savings Bank’s Main Street Foundation, $5,000 from the town of Jay’s recreation account, $1,000 from International Paper, now Verso Paper, plus labor and materials, $1,500 from Franklin Savings Bank, $1,000 from Wausau Paper, $1,000 from Jay Parent Teacher Organization, $500 from Dr. Roger Allen Kay, DDS, $500 from Flagg Landscape in Farmington and many $25 to $100 donations.

The group also has Playground Mania scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at the elementary school to raise more money, she said.

There they will sell children’s paintings of their version of a playground, hold games, do face painting, have a dunk tank, sell photos with a car background, and sell raffle tickets.

“I’m just really happy for the support we received from the businesses and the community and I’m very proud of how hard the children have worked to raise the money,” Diaz said. “Their parents have stepped up and the kids have stepped up and from a community service point of view, it’s just nice to have the kids jump in that way.”