Hundreds come together to start and complete project for area children

Published 10:38 pm Thursday, July 19, 2012

Some of the more than 200 volunteers who turned out Thursday to build a playground on First Avenue display a 'Thank You' sign as they celebrate the completion of the project -- Ashley Johnson

Kaboom! Is the sound of an explosion, and on Thursday there certainly was an explosion — an explosion of volunteers that came together to make a community better with some sweat, dirt and hard work. The hot weather did not seem to scare off more than 200 volunteers.

Kaboom! is a national non-profit organization dedicated to create play places for children and “saving play.” Councilwoman Angela Benjamin, along with a grant from the Strategic Health Alliance, was able to organize a Kaboom! build day in the Ward 4 community on Thursday, and the project was completed in six hours.

Site project manager Nauey Martinez from Kaboom! led the volunteers in the labor intensive project.

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“I’ve personally done this in more than nine states, but Kaboom! has been around for over 16 years and we have built over 2100 playgrounds,” Martinez said. “Everybody is always here for one cause, and so everyone seems really happy and if you are volunteering to come out and build a playground then how can you be grumpy?“

She said everything from the food and water provided at the site to all of the tools was donated.

Volunteers were from all ages. Young professionals came out for their companies, and the elderly in the community even helped at nursing stations and registration tables.

Louretta Wimberly said she and her crew of fellow elderly women worked registration all day. She said several people that she watched volunteer on Thursday, really impressed her.

“There was a young girl from AmeriCorps and she deserves a gold medal because she just worked so hard,” Wimberly said.

The President of Hani-E-Hwa, Kyungito Woo, came out to volunteer on Thursday, as did many local industries. “When I registered him I just thought that was so exciting that the president of that company came out here,” Wimberly said

Desiree Robertson and Madison Thomas were the first two children in line to see the completed project. Both said they were most interested and curious about the bridge on the playground.

“The swings will be my favorite part,” Robertson said.

Martinez and Benjamin led the closing ceremony complete with a ribbon cutting. Children constructed the ribbon and a large thank you banner was created as well.

Martinez announced at the closing ceremony that throughout the day, two shade structures, two picnic tables, multiple benches, two arbors, plant beds, hopscotch and twister station and an entire playground was constructed with the help of the volunteers.

It tool 216 people and 10,000 pounds of concrete.

I just cannot thank all of the people that came out and volunteered enough. You all got together, you built, and you finished this whole thing by 2 p.m.,” Benjamin said.