Verbena School has received help from many different people in its effort to spruce up its outdoor physical education area.

State Sen. Cam Ward and Rep. Kurt Wallace visited the school Thursday to check out a new fence for which they helped acquire funding.

Wallace said former VHS Principal Tommy Headley first contacted him about the need, and when current Principal Robin Cagle brought it up again, the lawmakers targeted the project as being worthy of some of the school-related funds they receive each year.

“I said, ‘This is something we really ought to do,'” Wallace said.

Installation of the fence cost $5,575 and encloses an activity area that includes playground equipment and open space for other physical education.

Elementary PE teacher Blake Edwards said 266 students a day use the area.

Three bids were obtained for the work, and the lowest was sent in by local company Independent Fence.

The area will benefit the entire community, not just the school, Cagle said. Verbena youth league baseball and softball teams have practiced inside the new fenced-in area, she said.

The fence has been up for less than a month.

Much more work went into the improvements at the site, which is adjacent to the school.

Chilton County Engineer Tony Wearren donated sketches for water flow in the area so that gravel could be spread and a water drain installed.

The result is a safer area for parents to pick up children after school (pick-up used to be in front of the school, where traffic was more congested) and additional parking for school events, including graduation ceremonies and sports events.

“It has worked so much safer with our pick-up in the afternoon,” Cagle said.