Knoxville — Recess is easily the highlight of any school day -- just ask the principal of Ball Camp Elementary School.
"If you ask kids what was their favorite part of the day, 9 times out of 10, they'll tell you it was recess," the school's principal Sarah Bringle laughed.
While there are no doubts that the kids love playing on the jungle gym outside the school, it's in need of a major upgrade.
"It's been a long time since they've been able to add some new pieces, and our older pieces are very well loved," kindergarten teacher Melissa Tatum said.
It's up to each individual school to foot the bill, but more often than not, buying new technology for the classrooms can be a more pressing need than an expensive play set.
So parents decided to take on the daunting task of coming up with the money themselves, with a lot of help from the surrounding community.
"I think people can get behind a community supporting children and keeping children little, letting them play is something everyone can agree on," said Bethany Schwarz, a parent who wanted to make a difference at her son's new school.
"A community playground seems like a win against cell phones, screen time, and growing up too fast. We want to show our children that they belong to a community that loves and values them," she said.
At the Ball Camp Baptist Church next to the school, Pastor Lee Fox was thrilled when he heard about the efforts to fundraise for a new playground.
"We are trying to find ways to give back to our community, to invest in our community within one square mile of the church. So, Ball Camp Elementary just made sense," Fox said, adding that they're taking up a special collection for the playground during their Easter service.
His church community is one of several local groups and businesses pitching in, sending a message of love and support to the kids who go to school here.
The parents are hoping to raise $75,000 by the end of the school year. They're still $25,000 away from reaching their goal. If you're interested in donating, checks can be mailed directly to Ball Camp Elementary with a note in the memo line specifying "playground," or you can donate online.