PARKERSBURG - School is getting back to normal inside and out for elementary students in Parkersburg.

Volunteers spent the past week assembling a new playground and doing groundwork at Parkersburg Elementary School. Nearly all of the city's park equipment was damaged or destroyed by the tornado that struck Parkersburg more than a year ago.

"People from all over the state have called and asked if they could come help," volunteer coordinator Diane Manifold said as work got under way last week.

Others were more impromptu helpers. Mike Scott of Webster City, brother-in-law of the late Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas, wandered over while Scott's son, Zach, attended football camp at a nearby field.

"No problem," Scott said. "It's fun to do, and I can still watch Zach practice."

Neighbors Laci Hoogestraat and Deb Oldenburger also offered a hand. The park is practically in their back yards and likely will be used frequently by their kids, they said.

"We came to put our playground together," Oldenburger joked.

This is the third phase of a $500,000 project that began in April with the installation of playgrounds east of town, along with the recently dedicated Miracle Park, near the city swimming pool. Equipment was purchased through local fundraising efforts by the Parkersburg Playground Committee and a matching grant from the Miracle Recreation Equipment Co., based in Missouri.

The Aplington-Parkersburg school district also contributed money to the latest addition, which cost about $86,000.

An early childhood playground is planned for installation next year once temporary buildings are moved off the site. Extra classroom space was needed last school year when Aplington Elementary students were shuffled to Parkersburg to make room for displaced high schoolers.

"I tell you, at the end of the school year, there was no grass out there," Manifold said. "We went from like 250-some kids to 300-some in this building. This was the area all those kids had to play on."

Swings and monkey bars have been salvaged. A dome-shaped climbing structure was removed last spring. Two Miracle representatives oversaw the project and directed crews.

"When we redid the playground about 15 years ago on the other side, we didn't have a supervisor," Manifold said. "That was a nightmare. None of us knew what we were doing."

Crews worked daily from 8 a.m. until sunset. Area residents and businesses donated food for volunteers.

The new school playground will serve more than 220 elementary students, as well as kids who live in the neighborhood.

"I'm very excited for the kids to get back and to see the excitement on their faces and to watch them play on it," said Parkersburg Elementary principal Amy May.