PHOTO GALLERY: Lee Elementary's playground one of three to be upgraded

February 4, 2013 | 8:21 p.m. CST

Elementary school playgrounds at Lee, New Haven and Shepard Boulevard are going to be improved through funds from the Parks and Recreation Department.

Seven-year-olds Mea Auck, left, Hannah Crites, center, and Emery Wurzer chat while perched on a piece of playground equipment at Lee Elementary. Columbia is paying Lee Elementary $15,000 to replace playground equipment, which is more than 20 years old. | Whitney Hayward

Noah Kee pauses for a moment while playing tag with other students at Lee Elementary atop a piece of playground equipment that will be replaced. The city of Columbia is paying $15,000 to replace the piece of equipment, which is more than 20 years old. | Whitney Hayward

Emma Clay, 7, crouches down while playing tag with other students at Lee Elementary on top of a piece of playground equipment that will soon be replaced. Columbia is paying $15,000 to replace the equipment, which is more than 20 years old. | Whitney Hayward

Lee Elementary School will receive $15,000 from the city of Columbia for new playground equipment, which will replace equipment that is more than 20 years old. | Whitney Hayward

Maya Seek, 9, swings across the monkey bars at Lee Elementary, which are a part of a piece of playground equipment that will be replaced. The city of Columbia is paying $15,000 to replace the piece of equipment, which is more than 20 years old. | Whitney Hayward