photo by: Contributed Photo/Eudora Schools Foundation

Eudora Middle School holds a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Center on Aug. 24, 2018.

Middle-schoolers of Eudora have a new space to play basketball, four-square and even oversized chess with the grand opening of the Eudora Middle School Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Center on Friday.

“Our students will benefit from many more opportunities to be outside,” Eudora Middle School Principal Jeremy Thomas said in a release Friday. “I cannot thank our community partners and the Eudora Schools Foundation enough for making this project come to life at EMS.”

In addition to the more conventional playground staples, the 5,978-square-foot outdoor area features an outdoor classroom and an oversized chess board, according to the release.

Many Douglas County organizations have pitched in to help fund the project over its history.

The plans began at the end of 2017 with a $10,000 donation from LiveWell Lawrence and an additional $1,000 from the Eudora Schools Foundation, both of which were accepted by the Eudora school board on Dec. 14, 2017.

Shanda Hurla, executive director of the Eudora Schools Foundation, said in the release that in addition to the funding, several local businesses donated materials and labor to the project.