Thursday, October 1, 2026
Construction of a gaga pit at the playground of Grand Mound Elementary School was completed with donated materials on May 27.
Parr Lumber Rochester donated lumber to the Grand Mound Boosters to add new playground equipment, according to a news release the boosters sent to The JOLT on May 29.
“At the end of the day, we’re more than just a lumber yard — we’re part of this community. Supporting our local schools and students is something we truly value, and we hope this donation brings a lot of smiles and laughter,” said Rochester Parr Lumber General Manager Tyler Balm in a statement.
The donation, made by Parr Lumber Store Manager Tyler Balm, was completed last year.
The boosters support the enrichment of student learning and literacy experience at Grand Mound Elementary School by collaborating and supporting the school administration and staff.
“Last June, our (boosters) voted to dedicate funds toward adding a gaga pit to the Grand Mound Elementary playground. It’s been a community effort,” said Grand Mound Boosters President Nicole Slaby in a statement.
Slaby said the new gaga pit will be open to families and community members because the Rochester School District’s policy allows communal use of playground areas after school during daylight hours.
“This project is a true testament to what our community can achieve when we work together for our students. Thanks to the early vision of our (boosters), crucial guidance from our school office, collaboration from district leadership, incredible generosity of local partners like Parr Lumber, and hard work of parents, we have built something truly special,” said Grand Mound Elementary School Principal Dan Aragon in a statement.
The Grand Mound Boosters is an all-volunteer nonprofit corporation.
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CommonScense
Kudo's to Parr Lumber!
What is a gaga pit?
Monday, June 8 Report this
wellnow77
Gaga ball is a variant of the classic playground sport dodgeball. But instead of running around throwing balls that can smack kids in the face, head, and other sensitive body parts, gaga ball limits the impact. Players slap or hit the ball, aiming to hit other players at or below the knees. If you’re hit, you’re out. The last player in the pit is the winner. The game is relatively inclusive, since kids don’t need to be able to run fast, and smaller kids may even have an advantage over taller ones.
Though it’s been around since at least the mid-20th century, the game has only gained popularity in the United States recently. No one is completely sure where it was invented, but most think it originated in Israel (“ga-ga” means “touch-touch” in Hebrew) and spread throughout the world via Jewish summer camps. About 10 years ago, the game spread from camps to schools, with kids passing it along to parents and teachers. Today, schools and communities everywhere are adding gaga ball pits to get in on the trend.
Monday, June 8 Report this