HARRISON – It doesn’t take much to get a group of fifth-grade students storming out the back door of school.

And this year the Harrison Elementary School students are running out back to the new playground that has been constructed thanks to the fundraising efforts of the school’s PTO and others, including third-grader Hope Proctor, who won $5,000 in a contest by Nickelodeon.

Nearly $75,000 in equipment has been donated to the playground that was designed last year by a group of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School students. The result is a playground filled with equipment that fits the needs of students from ages 5 through 12.

“The fitness center is the best,” said Nick Soucy, a fifth-grade student of the popular area for the older students.

The old wooden playground was taken out last year when decaying wood threatened the students’ safety.

Boone Frechette said he was glad the old one was gone. “That one was wooden and there were lots of splinters.”

The new one has won rave reviews from the students.

“It’s bigger” said Melanie Gagne.

Samantha Storey said, “We always have lots of fun on it.”

Principal Patricia Bradbury said future plans include having shades made by parents to stretch over areas of the playground that sits in a field exposed to the full sun.