New playground for Canandaigua Elementary School

Kids at Canandaigua Elementary should have a new playground by November. It comes after arson destroyed their last one.

Just weeks before school started the playground at Canandaigua Elementary burned to the ground.

"They were saddened obviously it was quite an impact, I think they took it personally," says Principal Mark Lavner.

Now the school is turning this act of arson into a positive...getting the students involved in rebuilding.

"We like to see students thinking about others so it's highly commendable," says Lavner.

Some of the students began their own fundraising efforts...including Julia Swearingin - a fourth grader. "I wanted to raise money for the new playground because our old one burned down and I thought why don't we have a nice playground," says Swearingin.

"These kids are thinking about their school, they are thinking about others and what it means it's very positive."

Principal Lavner says they are working on a school wide fundraiser for the project which could cost $100,000. Meanwhile, students will get their say on the new playground...voting next week on four different plans.

For now orange fencing blocks off where this playground once sat and for these kids who have only been back to school for a few weeks, they say it's been tough without that playground.

"Not really all that fun at recess," says Swearingin. Another student, Camerin O'Bryan agrees. "It's been really boring and not fun at all."  And Matt McGuire says, "Be fun if we had a bigger playground."

The kids are now counting the days until their new playground is built...likely by late October or early November.

"I'll be excited,” says Swearingin.  “I'll be happy and I might scream!"

Happiness, but with a lesson in mind.

"To never do it and make sure nobody does it and stuff," says O’Bryan.

Two young children were arrested in connection with the fire. Canandaigua police say they are 12 and 13 years old.