Recess will soon be a lot more fun for children in two Wareham schools, thanks to the efforts of many volunteers and a $20,000 anonymous donation.

East Wareham Elementary is currently completing the bidding and purchasing process for a new, large play structure, which will be installed in the nearly-vacant play area behind the school.

John W. Decas Elementary is a bit further along in its own playground build. Shovels will hit the ground this weekend for the volunteer-driven construction of a playground equipment at that school.

Teachers and parents at East Wareham Elementary, which services approximately 120 preschoolers from all over Wareham, have been trying to get a new playground built for years, but a year-long closure of the school and relocation to Hammond Elementary hampered volunteers' efforts.

Now in its third year back at the Depot Street building and armed with a $20,000 anonymous gift for the project, volunteers are eager to get the playground built.

"We'd be no where if we didn't have that" donation, said Denise Tobin, a teacher and member of the school's playground committee. "We wouldn't have a playground in sight." She thanked the anonymous donor "on behalf of all the kids."

Older playground structures were torn down in recent years after being deemed unsafe. Teachers say almost anything is better than what the school currently is offering for playtime activities — a very old swing set and a small, plastic play structure that would probably be better suited for a family's backyard, rather than at a school where 120 three- to five-year-old children, some with special needs, participate in recess and outdoor gym classes.

"They get bored with that really easily," Tobin said of the pink-and-yellow plastic structure currently used. "They pretty much just run around."

East teacher Sandra Ledvina agreed.

"Play is such an important part of children's learning," she said, noting that some students don't have homes with yards and don't live close to parks where they can play outdoors. "School is their opportunity for that."

The $36,000 project — which, when completed, will offer a trike path, giant tic-tac-toe game, and handicap access — will need to be done in phases. The first phase will bring in a large piece of equipment with slides and other preschool-friendly features.

"This is going to open up so much" for the students, said Tobin. "They'll have places to explore."

In addition to the donation, the school received funds from the Village PTA, which covers the Minot Forest, Hammond, and East elementary schools. The fundraising continues for the remaining phases of the playground build — the theme of which is "Building our future, learning through play."

Want to help? The school is selling $1 "learning through play" wristbands for the cause. Pick one up at the school, located at 27 Depot Street.

East Elementary will also host the "Bag2School" fundraiser, during which used clothing, sheets, drapes, belts, purses, shoes, and soft toys will be collected at the school. The collected items will be weighed and the school will receive money based on the overall weight. Bag2School will take place on Friday, April 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On the other side of town, the Decas Elementary PTA and its playground committee have raised more than $31,000 for new playground equipment for the kindergarten through fifth-graders at that school, where aging equipment was torn down last spring.

The playground will arrive on Saturday, April 14. Volunteers who can do heavy-lifting are needed for the build, which will take place that day from 7 a.m. until sundown. Volunteers must sign a release form.

It took ambitious volunteers just 15 months to raise the money needed for the playground. Excitement for the new equipment is mounting among students, parents, and staff — many of whom helped tear down old equipment and cleaned the playground area during various efforts throughout the past year.

"It's been amazing, how it's all come together," said Jennifer MacKerron, who headed the playground committee.

Food will be provided for volunteers, and, sweetening the deal, those who give at least two hours will be entered to win a set of Red Sox tickets. Children will not be permitted on the site during the building process.

To volunteer for or donate to the build, call Jennifer MacKerron at Decas Elementary at 508-291-3530.