HEBRON — In a word, the students say the new playing field behind the Hebron Station School is “awesome.”

“It’s really cool,” said Avery Jurek, 9, as she and her classmates ran out into the field that just opened this school year.

Hebron Station School opened in September 2002 without enough of a budget to support playing fields, said Hebron Station School Principal Tiffany Karnes. But with the help of the community that rallied in March of 2008 to raise $25,000 at town meeting and a committee of volunteers that worked with school officials, the dream of a playing field was realized.

“It was very exciting,” Karnes said.

The volunteers came up with a plan, hired an engineer and started working on the field during the summer of 2008. While the work progressed, the field needed two growing seasons to ensure that the grass would not be damaged before it could be used.

“It didn’t get done as quickly as they wanted. It was very difficult for them.” Karnes said. “But we could not have done it without the citizens.”

Scott Parker, one of the dozens of volunteers, said rainy weather was a problem.

“The weather was a big factor for us,” Parker said. Despite the rain, he said the volunteers, including a number of private contractors who donated their time and equipment were able to develop the 2.5 acre site into a new playing area.

Students who now enjoy the large grassy area that is behind the school and just below the paved play area, say they have waited a long time for this.

“Last year it was all dirt. It was really bad,” said Caroline Burns, 9, who like other classmates was allowed on the field only during the winter until the grass “took.”

“It was just a big field that the kids used to go down and play on but it was bumpy and rocky and we didn’t have any real playing field for the kids,” Karnes said.

The fields finally opened up for play when school resumed in August and is used now every day by the students at recess.

“We had a beautiful spot for it,” Karnes said of the area which has a backdrop of trees and mountains. “It’s just been great. It’s added so much to our playground. There are so many more options (for activities).”

The students already have ideas on how to improve the fields. Lines and end goals for playing football and keeping the boys from taking over the entire field playing touch football during recess were just some of the ideas the students had for improving the field.

“The kids play every day at recess just running their little hearts out,” Karnes said. In the afternoon, athletes from the Hebron-Minot Recreation Association also use the fields to play soccer.

Fourth-grade teacher Cory Munson said it has been a real boon for students during recess. “There’s plenty of space. Everyone’s running around and just exercising.”

“It’s awesome,” said Kaden Cutler, 9, as he passed a football to his friend.

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Kaden Cutler, a fourth-grade student at Hebron Station School, throws a pass to fifth-grade student John Libby during recess Monday on the school’s new playing field.

Maya Chappell, a fifth-grade student at the Hebron Station School, sits in the center of a friendship circle playing the “friendship squeeze” game while other classmates play a game of touch football in the background on the new playing field at Hebron Station School.