[StBernard] playground update #4

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Community Playground
RE-Boot, RE-Pair and RE-Build
April 8-13, 2008        Update #4
By Polly Boudreaux, General Coordinator
 
The 14,000 sq. ft. St. Bernard Community Playground/Amphitheatre in Torres
Park remains closed for public access as volunteers prepare for the major
makeover to take place from April 8-13.  In less than 2 weeks, with the
assistance of hundreds of community members, this popular play area will be
completely repaired and rebuilt.
 
The damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005 will be repaired as
hardware is replaced, swings are refurbished and picket fence sections are
restored.  The front entrance to the playground destroyed by arsonists' fire
on January 1, 2008 will be completely rebuilt along with a brand new section
encompassing an itneractive tree fort and wheelchair accessible play areas.
 
How does a community project of this magnitude take place?
 

*	VOLUNTEERS have signed up to be a part of the build by offering to
work one or more days from April 9-13 on three shifts from 8:30a.m.-noon,
12:30p.m.-5:00 and 5:30p.m.-8:30p.m.  Corporations and volunteer groups
already include Entergy, Shell Oil, Chalmette Refining, Murphy Oil, Capital
One, Gulf Coast, St. Bernard Parish Government, Chalmette High, LSU Ag
Center 4H, First Baptist New Orleans Youth Group and Lockheed Martin. To
volunteer as a group or as an individual e-mail
communityplaygroundproject at yahoo.com
<mailto:communityplaygroundproject at yahoo.com>  or call Lauren Faust at
278-4234.
*	TOOLS have been solicited from various volunteer agencies and
willing contractors including rakes, shovels, hammers, saws, ladders and
drills.  Tools are still needed.  To offer your tools e-mail Abbey Flaherty
at abbeyf at thegatheringcc.com <mailto:abbeyf at thegatheringcc.com> .
*	MATERIALS have been ordered from all parts of the country as well as
through local vendors.  All materials will be on the ground for the start of
the build including limestone, mulch, lumber, play equipment, and hardware.
Mark Abshier heads up the materials coordination.
*	FOOD/DRINK donations have been solicited from various restaurants
and civic organizations to feed the daily work crews.  Water and food items
are still needed for the weekend of the build. To donate a food or drink
item call Gidget McDougall or Claudette Ponstein at 278-4346 or e-mail
emcdougal at sbpg.net <mailto:emcdougal at sbpg.net> .
*	CONSTRUCTION CAPTAINS have committed to be part of the entire build
from the April 8th set-up day to the five day build week of April 9-13.  To
serve as a construction captain call Polly Boudreaux at 554-7134 or e-mail
pboudreaux5 at yahoo.com <mailto:pboudreaux5 at yahoo.com> .  The workload is
intense, the pay is non-existent but the rewards will far outweigh the
week's labor.
*	PICKETS continue to be sold for $25 as a fundraiser for the project.
Orders have already been received for 203 of the 400 available pickets.
Remember also that pickets from the 2003 build will remain and those
destroyed by the hurricane or fire will be replaced.  Contact anyone listed
above for an order form.
*	T-SHIRTS are now available for $10.  The sale and distribution of
shirts is being planned during the build days of April 9-13.  
*	DONATIONS have been generously provided by the following community
entities: the Meraux Foundation, Senator Walter Boasso, SDT Waste Services,
Frank Silva, St. Bernard Recreation Corporation, Aaron's Donuts, Delacroix
Corporation, Rozas-Ward Architects, Dorothy Benge, Mabel Isabel Molero
Quatroy Living Trust, Domino - American Sugar, Melinda Benge Brown, Home
Depot and Entergy.  Mail your donation to St. Bernard Community Playground
Project, P.O. Box 1632, Chalmette, LA 70044.  Any funds remaining after
build expenses will be used for exciting summer programming opportunities
such as puppet theatre, storytelling, outdoor movie nights, and concerts.

 
The Community Playground Project is an incredible opportunity to participate
in the parish's rebuilding effort.  Don't sit on the "backseat" of our
community recovery.  Whether you live in Hopedale, Arabi or Violet it's time
to take a front row seat and get involved!  WE NEED YOUR ENERGY and PASSION.
 
In addition, we have been honored to be chosen as the volunteer project for
the global LexisNexis annual convention.  Over 200 LexisNexis senior leaders
from across the globe will descend upon the playground and amphitheatre
April 1 in a major effort to prep the area for the April 9-13 build week as
well as to completely landscape around the amphitheatre area.