By Ashley M. Casey

Staff Writer

Willow Field Elementary School just received a huge boost in its quest to add on to its playground: The Fuccillo Automotive Group has donated $12,000 to Phase 2 of the project. Surrounded by students playing on the 2015 Phase 1 of the playground, representatives from Fuccillo presented WFE with the check Aug. 11.

“Fuccillo basically came in and saved the day for us,” said Stephanie Korthas, president of the Willow Field Elementary Parent Teacher Organization.

The PTO set a fundraising goal of $20,000 for Phase 2 of the playground project and had raised $8,000.

“We got this close and Billy [Fuccillo] said, ‘You know what? Let’s finish it for them,’” said Dave Perry, general manager of Fuccillo Kia of Clay.

The PTO began fundraising for a new playground in 2012. Last June, after collecting $45,000, the community came together to build a Lunar Burst Aeronet climber, eight swings and a PlayBooster tower with a slide. The playground meets the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The kids are all very excited,” Korthas said. “Their faces were plastered to the windows during the first phase.”

Phase 2, which will start construction in October, will add on to the PlayBooster tower and will feature monkey bars, a see-saw and other standalone play structures. The playground will be complete by June 2017.

“It will be a community build,” WFE Principal John Sardella said.

Perry said many Fuccillo employees have children in the Liverpool Central School District, and Fuccillo has donated to local organizations such as Vera House and the Food Bank of Central New York.

“Billy loves giving back to the community, especially when they’ve supported him,” Perry said. “It’s great to do something for the kids and have a safe place for them to go.”

Rich Hope, who works in sales at Fuccillo Nissan, said his children graduated from Liverpool. He recalled the construction of the original playground more than two decades ago.

“It’s very nice Fuccillo’s able to contribute like that,” Hope said. “To be able to continue helping the community is great.”

Sardella and Korthas said students already are enjoying Phase 1 of the playground. Korthas said families use the playground during the summer as well.

“They love it — they play on it every day that the weather cooperates,” Sardella said. “It brings a lot of joy [and] physical activity to it.”

“Outside time for any kid is extremely important,” Korthas said. “My daughter is obsessed with the swings. Being able to have a safe structure to play on … their attitude improves.”