Discuss Detroit » Archives - Connections II » Local Community-Built Playground: September 5-10, 2006 « Previous Next »
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Kpm
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Username: Kpm

Post Number: 5
Registered: 08-2005
Posted From: 12.104.180.67
Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 2:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

BIRMINGHAM — Five years ago, members of the community started a grass-roots effort to work with the city in building a better Booth Park and playground.

In a few short days, their dream will become a reality.

Hundreds of community volunteers will band together to help turn a pile of dirt into a new fantasy playground for children Sept. 5-10.

According to volunteer coordinator Stacey Cassis, those who want to become a part of Birmingham history still can lend a hand — or their tools.

More than 800 adult volunteers and tools are needed to help with construction and related jobs during the week of construction. Many — like the Birmingham Fire Department, Rotary Club, athletic teams at Seaholm, and seventh- and eighth-graders from Covington — have already signed up to volunteer, but more people are needed to make sure that the build goes as scheduled.

“There is an opportunity for anyone to be involved. We are going to need not only people building — skilled or unskilled — but we are going to need people to help with volunteer sign-in, we are going to need people to help check tools in and out, and we’re going to need people to help with food care and childcare,” said Cassis.

This is a project that people of all ages and all physical capabilities can be involved in, according to Cassis. Children ages 10-14 can volunteer to be on-site with a parent, and those ages 14-17 can be on site without a parent. Only those who are 18 or older can use power tools.

When people volunteer, Cassis said she would like to know if they consider themselves skilled or unskilled.

“Skilled means that you are comfortable using power tools and probably the easiest way to determine that is that you could at a minimum cut a straight line with a circular saw,” she said.

Construction will begin Sept. 5 at 12:30 p.m. and is expected to conclude at 5 p.m. Sept. 10. Volunteers are especially needed to fill shifts on Sept. 5, 6 and 7. Shifts will run from 8 a.m.-noon, 12:30 p.m.-5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-sundown, approximately 8:30 p.m.

Volunteers will be provided meals by a number of local restaurants and other food providers after morning and afternoon shifts, and child care will be provided for ages 3 and older if parents sign up in advance. Child care will be held at Holy Name Parish in Birmingham from about 3 p.m. until the end of each day’s project activities Tuesday-Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Volunteers — who are expected to show up rain or shine — are strongly encouraged to sign up in advance, but walk-up volunteers will be accepted.

“We would really prefer that people sign up ahead of time because, obviously, that will allow us to plan for food service and child care,” Cassis said. “If you make a commitment and you can’t come, please send someone in your place because we are counting on you.”

If people want to volunteer their tools for the build, Cassis said there will be a locked tool shed, and all tools will be marked with the owner’s name and will be checked in and out with each use. People can drop off their tools Aug. 30 and 31 at Booth Park.

“Some of the popular items that we could use more support on are drills, hammers, metal rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, tape measurers and power tools,” Cassis said.

The project will cost just under $1.2 million — around $164,000 comes from community donations, and the balance is from the city as part of the $25 million in bonds that voters approved in 2001. The final design calls for a multi-story fire tower combined with bridges, swings, a garden landscape, a sledding hill, lawn waves, and other features for children to play on. More than 70 percent of the playground will be handicap accessible, higher than the mandated 50 percent.

“Most people are going to come to this park and see how great it is once it’s all built and those of us who are actually helping to build it are going to have a sense of pride and ownership in the park,” said Booth Park coordinator Tim Page. “We need more people to volunteer because we still really need the help.”

Booth Park is located at North Old Woodward and Harmon Street in Birmingham.

http://www.candgnews.com/news_ item.asp?p=2006\august\30\eagle\volunteers.ht ml


Details and *amazing* designs at:
http://boothparkplayground.org /
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Itsjeff
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Username: Itsjeff

Post Number: 6708
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 208.27.111.125
Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 2:17 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Birmingham: Let's do something!
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Jt1
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Username: Jt1

Post Number: 7811
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 198.208.159.19
Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 2:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'll help if I can thrown a shovel full of dirt in LBP's face.
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Jelk
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Username: Jelk

Post Number: 4034
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 69.209.136.48
Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 2:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Maybe Detroitstar and his/her "organization" should do the same thing in Detroit. After all the Cass Park playground is pretty much rendered useless because of all the broken liquor bottles and used needles left by the Park's much beloved homeless population.

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