Alden Primary School students have a brand-new playground, and they have opinions. “Way, way better,” one student told WACS. Another rated it “like 10 times better.”

The upgrade was a long time coming. School officials told WACS the old playground had been overdue for an overhaul for years. It sat on a stone base, some of the equipment was no longer age-appropriate, and a few pieces had started to deteriorate.

The new playground is bigger, with upgraded versions of old favorites and new additions like a tire swing. “There’s just so much cooler stuff,” one student said.

The goals, officials said, are simple: smiling faces, laughter, and a safe place where kids can play with their friends and burn off energy during an otherwise structured school day.

And there’s more on the way. A stage, delayed by a back order, will sit on a new artificial-turf area. It will give teachers a place to bring in presenters, let students perform outdoors, and give families a comfortable spot to watch end-of-year concerts and celebrations.