A dozen volunteers worked through rain and thunderstorms Saturday to assemble a giant puzzle of brightly-colored shapes into a new play area for the Blair Community Playground.
Putting in the play area geared for 2-5 year olds, another for toddlers plus swings and "bouncy things," are the first steps toward a playground for everyone. Over the next few weeks, contractors will put in poured-in-place ground covering under the equipment that will allow wheelchair access, a key requirement for the whole project.
The goal is to complete Phase I, plus a few extras, of the estimated three-phase playground project by the September 23 ribbon-cutting and public debut.
Last weekend's 13-hour work bee culminated a fast-paced year where a dedicated group of citizens raise $66,000 and counting for the playground. Kicking off last September, the fundraising and planning brought together a community to create for the next generation of residents.
Grants that boosted the project included $30,000 from Rotary Charities for the poured-in-place wheelchair accessible surface plus $15,000 from the Oleson Foundation and $10,000 from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Outstate Michigan. Other fundraisers throughout the community helped generate additional funds.
"Because we were blessed with more donations, we were able to add some of the third phase in this year," said Brenda DeKuiper, who launched the grass roots project in September 2005. "When we got started, people told us it was going to take a while and we've been getting so many comments from people saying they can't believe we've gotten as far as we have."
"But it's happened because the community has come together on this," added DeKuiper, the mother of two young children. "It's a very positive project for the community and the whole area."
The Blair Township Park sported outdated wooden play structures and last year DeKuiper and other families decided it was time for a change. They envisioned a modern, accessible playground that would enhance Blair Township Park, which already sports horseshoe pits, baseball diamonds, a tennis court and a volleyball net. The park also features a covered pavilion with picnic tables and restrooms plus a paved walking track.
"You won't have to drive so far," said Connie Bowman, one of the volunteers helping with the assembly, about the benefits of the Blair Community Playground.
"The main thing is that you will be able to see all the kids at the same time," added Bowman, the mother of three children, ages one, three and four.
Organizers will finish the first phase of construction with about $10,000-15,000 in the bank, an excellent jump for next year's vision. In 2007, they hope to install an elevated sandbox, a wheelchair swing and a large play structure for 5-12 year olds. This structure will also have wheelchair-friendly ground covering underneath.
"The money won't sit in the bank until we have what we need, we'll put in what we have the money for," said DeKuiper, adding of the project's commitment to wheelchair accessibility: "We started off with the commitment to make this playground accessible for anybody to use."
DeKuiper praised the township's support for the Phase I as well as the generosity of area contractors for both in in-kind donations, equipment including a rock crusher and bobcat plus flexible scheduling to get the work done.
Volunteer efforts have saved Blair Community Playground organizers tens of thousands of dollars during this phase. Before Saturday's effort, DeKuiper and others spent the previous weekend preparing and excavating the site.
"The township supervisor even donated two of his vacation days to this project," said DeKuiper of Patrick Pahl. "It was very kind