thedrifter
02-14-09, 07:42 AM
Volunteers Work to Build New Playground in 3 Days
By Manolo Morales
Story Created: Feb 13, 2009 at 5:03 PM HST
Story Updated: Feb 13, 2009 at 6:35 PM HST
The pressure is on for hundreds of volunteers who plan to build a playground in four days.
The Marines have landed at Aikahi Playground, some 360 of them from Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe, to help with an ambitious task; start building a playground Friday and finish it by Monday.
"For us to have an opportunity like this just to be out and intermingle with the community and also help the kids. I mean if it wasn't for the kids there wouldn't be a future, we'd have nothing to look forward to," said Cpl. Joshua Ritch.
Along with them there are other volunteers, like folks from Hawaii Job Corps, and families who live in the area. Among them, 11 year old Denali Jackson.
It was a blow to the community when the old playground equipment was abruptly taken away last year.
"It was removed suddenly due to safety concerns, everyone in this community started banding together, how can we do this?," said Kimi Eggers, one of the children's parent.
The old playground was torn down in August of last year, so the kids in the community have been without a playground for six months. That's why volunteers are in a hurry to get this done.
They're also getting a lot of help from a company called Leathers and Associates, which has designed hundred of playgrounds around the country. For this one, the architects asked the children what they wanted to put in it.
The $150,000 price tag for the project will not cost taxpayers anything. The labor is free. Materials, which are made from recycled products, were either donated or bought through a variety of fundraising efforts.
Volunteers say it may not look like much right now, but come Monday, it will be a playground.
Ellie
By Manolo Morales
Story Created: Feb 13, 2009 at 5:03 PM HST
Story Updated: Feb 13, 2009 at 6:35 PM HST
The pressure is on for hundreds of volunteers who plan to build a playground in four days.
The Marines have landed at Aikahi Playground, some 360 of them from Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe, to help with an ambitious task; start building a playground Friday and finish it by Monday.
"For us to have an opportunity like this just to be out and intermingle with the community and also help the kids. I mean if it wasn't for the kids there wouldn't be a future, we'd have nothing to look forward to," said Cpl. Joshua Ritch.
Along with them there are other volunteers, like folks from Hawaii Job Corps, and families who live in the area. Among them, 11 year old Denali Jackson.
It was a blow to the community when the old playground equipment was abruptly taken away last year.
"It was removed suddenly due to safety concerns, everyone in this community started banding together, how can we do this?," said Kimi Eggers, one of the children's parent.
The old playground was torn down in August of last year, so the kids in the community have been without a playground for six months. That's why volunteers are in a hurry to get this done.
They're also getting a lot of help from a company called Leathers and Associates, which has designed hundred of playgrounds around the country. For this one, the architects asked the children what they wanted to put in it.
The $150,000 price tag for the project will not cost taxpayers anything. The labor is free. Materials, which are made from recycled products, were either donated or bought through a variety of fundraising efforts.
Volunteers say it may not look like much right now, but come Monday, it will be a playground.
Ellie