An elementary school is urging the public to help it raise more than $100,000 to replace an ageing and overcrowded 30-year-old playground.

In a bid to create a new playground, Homma elementary in Steveston has entered an online grant competition hosted by the insurance company Aviva.

Based on voting, the 90 submissions that get the most votes will go on to the semi-finals, with three categories and 30 winners for every category. Homma is entered into the “large” category of $100-150 thousand dollar projects.

And to give the project more validity and depth, the school’s PAC has already enlisted the help of landscape architect firm, Hapa Collaborative, to come up with a design.

“The older parts of the playground are as old as the school itself,” said parent Marcie Gray, who heads up the PAC’s playground committee.

“Bits of it that were red and now pink and, although it’s safe, it’s really old and it’s difficult for the older kids to even get on the playground.”

Gray said the PAC and the school have been working on a vision for a new and more natural playground for students and the community for some time now.

“This is for everyone that lives in the area, not just for the school, it’s very well used in Steveston, especially after school,” added Gray.

Gray said the committee would need to raise at least $100,000 and, with only $10,000 or so in the PAC coffers, the need for the public to vote furiously is paramount.

“If this doesn’t work out, we can look for fundraising, but this is a great chance and we’d love people’s help,” said Gray.

If you’d like to vote for Homma, log onto www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf15573 and go to the site every day to click the “vote now” button for Homma.

They need to collect at least 10,000 votes to make the semi-finals.