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<br /> Volunteers Work Small Miracle in Refurbishing Va. Playground
<br /> AREA, From Page 1 •• �'. • area. "They loved it," Hickson recalled.
<br /> Rather, the money was raised by the r �f$' ,tb: ."--it 10-„ • Involve the entire community in as
<br /> Committee for Creative Recreation, a citigA
<br /> r� , � „i�" t `*'K many aspects as possible.
<br /> Rens' group organized on their own �� • ,' � •Y ,. .,:.:. 1 While the basic design was pr
<br /> ' .-w„4 't,• . . by Hickson, creative ideas were in
<br /> impetus. }�, 01"; %. F' rated whenpossible duringon-site con-
<br /> The Emily Spilman Creative Play �.;%. . .{, �•
<br /> Area began because citizens were con- '♦o '� t I 'II r ;r struction. Tools, even $6,000 worth of
<br /> corned that the existing playground •
<br /> ,Y' '. �` power tools, were borrowed from local
<br /> 1` ,�`e -.. , - businesses and citizens. A live radio
<br /> equipment was old and too dangerous. b`• ,, � �'
<br /> Although the Department of Parks and M V', broadcast from the construction site
<br /> Recreation had been replacing play equip- kept the community up-to-date during
<br /> ment with newer and safer models, the • •� .. one day's construction. Hourly reports
<br /> department could not afford total - - -.... were made by Hickson to radio stations
<br /> ..--*-1t-'-'72.,..,4--,,1—" on other days.
<br /> renovation.
<br /> So the Committee for Creative Rec- ,
<br /> A local sculptor, moved by the sight
<br /> t' of so many volunteers working, some-
<br /> reation began raising funds, but not times in the cold and the rain, designed
<br /> without one disaster. The first major g
<br /> fund-raising drive was a concert by Bill Several of the more than Son volunteer workers a rocking horse sculpture that is now
<br /> Pickney and the Original Drifters that who helped re-create the Emily M. Spilman part of the Creative Play Area.
<br /> Creative Play Area concentrate on building a
<br /> eventually lost $1,200 and taught the wooden horse. • Don't break the momentum of
<br /> committee that simpler and more direct work.
<br /> let an adult retrieve a child, but small
<br /> appeals would be more successful. enough so a child can make it his own 1'he Department of Parks and Rec-
<br /> In retrospect, Hickson believes that reation provided free breakfast, lunch
<br /> turf.
<br /> the committee spent too much money for and dinner for all construction volun-
<br /> the performing group ($3,000) and for ' Roil each task down to its simplest teers. Medical attention was available
<br /> functions.
<br /> advertising ($1,200) for too few ticket on the site, although it was not needed.
<br /> sales (1,000). The next project was a The
<br /> Hickson blueprint was divided "If we didn't get something warm
<br /> door-to-door solicitation for four nights, into 18 sections, with each "brave" into people's stomachs right in the
<br /> with 35 volunteers asking for donations given printed instruction packets and morning, we worried that their bod
<br /> each night. That netted the project total supervision over completion of a temperatures would drop on days
<br /> i $4,000, and the ball was rolling. section. The "braves," who had some we started work with temperatu
<br /> The city's 80 fraternal and social construction background or knowledge, the 30's. If they left the site for lu
<br /> • organizations were asked to support were given day-by-day work schedules we worried that they wouldn't return,"
<br /> • the project. Slide shows, information and an orientation at 7:30 each morning. Hickson recalled.
<br /> fliers and lapelpins ins were used as induce- Then the "Indians" came at 8 a.m.,
<br /> hammers in hand, clothed in aprons, and Equally as important as work mo-
<br /> ments for donations. P mentum was community spirit. To foster
<br /> Individuals and corporations which shown which nails go into which boards. a sense of unity of purpose, Hickson
<br /> donated $250 or more, either in services Babysitting services were provided for assigned fratemal clubs and others
<br /> or in cash, will have their names en- children younger than five. Older children specific assignments. So the Kiwanis
<br /> graved on a plaque to be hung in the worked at construction and were given
<br /> Emily Spilman Creative Play Area. And shovels to spread gravel over the play See AREA,Page 11
<br /> the list will be long, including, for cx t•.� t ,
<br /> • 1i •
<br /> ample, 15 volunteers from the local Gen t<s "a— fi a - -1,4' ,,t :fr,"w � �"�z•,,•` -. `•1 r '"'• •,
<br /> eral Electric plant who designed and 'e', 1 -1.0,k, , f` 'Pc ,,^ , ,,r .. • ,:-
<br /> ,ir,•',
<br /> built a covered bridge to Hickson's `• .J I II'I 1•40r,„,.-4",,v—t ,'•;1 f ,,. „?(^
<br /> specifications. A" I I� I' 1.',e,,,,,;..11',.11,,.,, 4...r� t ., ,r.,'"•,#,,,� , +'' :L! ,w.. 'f!(•'
<br /> But fund raising was only one portion w ; ,�t 111:11 •' "- :1' r� oj�; ,� �n
<br /> of the campaign to translate the dream of ,. 1 ,> �'
<br /> a crrativr play arra into the reality of r " t ' I , •, I; •_ ' .J c
<br /> swings, slides and climbingbridges. i
<br /> h.P ' t `# f se. 3 ,*• 1 I �� ;S
<br /> g g ; rr 1 i II 11.� ht„ 4,--#
<br /> Planning of the actual work and design ,' • �t�r.._ rte(`_ tr
<br /> of the play area were the project's meat � „,r .n t ^fir;' 1 � ' j j ''
<br /> and potatoes. And that was I lickson's t. 1- :.',1 i /
<br /> undertaking. Experience taught him a few %° �. Y t' r i .� 'i • F
<br /> basic rules: _ ' '� , �,
<br /> • Make the design responsive to the . rii -� '• ?-•,'
<br /> community needs.
<br /> The Waynesboro department asked the . . i" -, I ' 4 -vim \ �3'
<br /> children what they wanted, and then , , i l .,. •1_ "
<br /> built to specifications. The Creative Play 1' I
<br /> Area lets a child climb from one end to °?` F • s` ' r• a
<br /> the other without ever touching ground. The Emily M. Spilman Creative Play Area, named for a well-known community activist, features a
<br /> The castle maze is just large enough • castle maze made of 111 telephone poles, rocket ships, cubed tires for climbing and a cable bridge.
<br /> Dateline — 5
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