Floyd Elementary PTA Fall Festival this Saturday to help with community picnic shelter project

by Wanda Combs
Editor

It’s not your typical outdoor structure.
When Chris Prokosch and Shannon Green of DesignWorks Construction were asked to come up with ideas for a design for an outdoor structure at Floyd Elementary School, their creativity led them to a concept for a multi-use structure that would be used for musical and other performances and classroom experiences and give a shelter from the rain. Prokosch said he and his wife wanted to provide more than space for a picnic shelter.
The designers approached the project from a double perspective – as professionals and parents. The couple has three children - two in high school and one in elementary school. All have been students at Floyd Elementary.
DesignWorks Construction donated their design time on the project. “We wanted to give something to the community,” Chris said.
In addition to the structure being used by the students, the Floyd PTA, the sponsors of the project, wanted it to be available to the community.
The designers’ plan includes a large band shell structure, which provides1,580 square feet of space under the roof. A curved concrete wall on one side and a roof that fans out are two of its features. The structure is supported by five round concrete columns and is designed to be low maintenance. It will accommodate 100 people on picnic tables or more in folding chairs, Prokosch said. The structure will be located near the tennis courts and will fan out toward the west and the baseball field.
The community would also be able to use the facility for such things as family reunions or picnics.
The Floyd Elementary PTA has been involved in fundraising on the project for several years, and this Saturday, October 17, the PTA hopes to have a large turnout at their PTA Fall Festival to take place at the school from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is open to the community, and there will be games, large inflatables for the kids, food, including hot dogs, and face painting. Tickets will be sold for the activities. Donations are also being accepted. All proceeds will go to the community picnic structure.
“We really want it to be a family event,” said Larkin Conley of the PTA.
Conley said parents and staff have helped tremendously with the project. “We hope this (fundraiser) will do it.”
The project began four years ago, when Conley was PTA president. Members voted on suggested PTA projects, and the shelter was the number one choice, Conley noted. At that point, “we thought we were going to build a regular …shelter.” Conley said the PTA always wanted a structure that would be maintenance free so future PTAs would not be saddled with the financial burden of upkeep.
The PTA has had various fundraisers and has collected $19,000 through corporate donations, the Floyd Elementary PTA and PTSA at the high school, and the School Board.
Estimated cost of the project is $32,000, $8,000 of which is labor. Teacher Doug Thompson and his building trades students plan to build it. Conley said hopefully work, weather permitting, will begin before the 17th so those at the festival will be able to see the progress.
The designers, who are overseeing the project, expect it to take six weeks, Conley said. “It’s a fast build. Chris is hopeful the community will donate scaffolding and equipment.” If you can donate anything, please contact Floyd Elementary Principal Debbie West or Conley.
Prokosch and Green have been operating in Floyd County since 1987 as DesignWorks. DesignWorks Construction specializes in residential design, school and commercial work and sees design and building services through to completion.
The couple explained their work encompasses all types of styles. “What we’re most interested in is a design that’s unique and specific to the client’s needs and requirements of the building site,” Prokosch remarked.
The company has a website – http://www.designworksconstruction.com.
A model of the proposed Floyd Elementary PTA project can be viewed in the school library.