Woodson Kindergarten Center hopes its students, families, graduates and community members will show up this weekend to say farewell to the school’s well-worn playground — and, perhaps, throw in a little send-off money.

A committee of educators and future Woodson parents are throwing a Play-A-Thon Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. in hopes of raising about $40,000 needed to purchase and install new playground equipment before September.

The group seeks to replace structures that are up to 30 years old, as well as fence in an adjacent field.

The total cost of the new playground is $50,000, and would include basketball hoops, several jungle gyms, an additional swing set and benches.

Principal Jean McDermott said the current playground, installed when the building housed Austin’s early childhood and community learning programs, is suited for only about 30 or 40 students at a time. Woodson, which has a student body of about 370, often has up to 150 kids out playing at once.

The committee raised about $10,000 last year, which has already been used to install a new swing set and a couple of other pieces, McDermott said.

“Kids need physical activity and space,” she said. “Playgrounds are also good for their socialization, they make friends out there, playing side-by-side… It also helps them build upper body strength and fine motor skills.”

The committee originally also sought to replace mulch at the playground with two 5,000-square-feet areas of rubber flooring that would cost $75,000 each, making the playground safe and accessible to students with special needs.

“Right now that doesn’t look feasible,” McDermott said. “But, you never know, maybe someone is out there that wants to donate $150,000 for this cause.”

Future and former Woodson students, their families, and community-members are invited to the school Saturday to play family games like kickball, soccer and field hockey, dance the Hokey Pokey, meet other students, listen to music and shop a rummage sale — filled with plenty of kids’ clothes.

Some of the current playground equipment will also be auctioned off at the event, McDermott said.

Free-will tax-deductible donations will be accepted Saturday, and donors are encouraged to check with their place of employment to see if matching funds are possible.

An incoming Woodson family has pledged to match $5,000.00 of individual donations, McDermott said.

Businesses and organizations can also purchase benches for $600, or individual pieces of equipment. Recognition for donations of at least $100 will be provided on a permanent sign on the playground site.