TYLER, TX - Students at Jack Elementary are enjoying new playground equipment thanks to donations and fundraising efforts from the community.

A colorful new piece of playground equipment - complete with slides, a ladder and climbing wall - for the youngest grades at the school was installed earlier this month, and students came out to celebrate and say, "thank you," Thursday morning, along with Tyler Independent School District officials.

"When you think of children, you think of them playing," said Jack Elementary Principal Shauna Hittle. "We work very hard every day within the school walls. To see them out here just enjoying themselves and each other and enjoying school is a really great feeling."

"Wow," was the initial reaction from students when they saw the playground equipment, Ms. Hittle said.

"It was like Christmas" for them," she said.

Lisa Preddy, president of the Jack PTA, said the playground cost about $22,000 and was made possible by donations and PTA fundraising efforts.