TUSCALOOSA, AL - In the middle of the ice storm of 1993, Verner Elementary school teachers, parents and community members got together in the freezing cold and built what they thought would be a playground that would last for generations.

They called it the field of dreams.

It had turrets. It had swinging bridges, a tire swing and multiple slides.

But over the last 15 years, the large, wooden playground deteriorated, with loose, rusty nails barely holding together weathered, splintered pieces of wood.

On Monday and Tuesday, the playground was torn down, much to the dismay of some students.

“They were totally devastated,” said Verner second-grade teacher Elizabeth Welch, who brought her students to watch the construction equipment at work.

Verner Principal Beth Curtis had to get on the intercom to reassure the children that even though the playground was being demolished, it would not be the end of their play space.

Read more about the ongoing effort here .

Other tidbits from the article:

• For the past two years the school has been raising money for the construction of a playground that would be open to the community as well as students.
• The plan is for the new Field of Dreams to be open by next school year.
• The new playground will be much larger than the previous one. More like a park, it will take up about an acre of land and include a large picnic pavilion in the center, along with a separate arbor for children’s activities.
• So far, the school has raised a little more than $12,000 with two 5K fun runs and a father-daughter dance.
• The new playground is expected to cost $300,000.
• A 2004 Ford Explorer (donated by a local business) will be given away in a raffle. Tickets for a chance at the vehicle are $5, with all proceeds going to the playground project.
• Several donations have also come in the form of in-kind services, including the design for the project.