Building a Playground

I am a member of the Scottsbluff Kiwanis Club. You know the club that headed up building the Trails of Fun Playground in Riverside Park! Months ago when the club decided to do this, I thought that it was rather ambitious. However, with the leadership of Bob Commings, Charmaine Uhrig, Roger Russell, and LOTS of volunteers the mission was accomplished on Sunday.

I usually refer to myself as "craftily challenged." Meaning I usually don't have patience for crafts like woodworking. However, I seemed to take to power tools last week! This first day I worked was Thursday and I mostly painted boards. To say the least pretty boring.

By Saturday, Dave one of the engineers from Leathers Associates, Inc. asked,"Do you think you can do signs?" Well since I am a Marketing person by trade, I figured, "yes I can!"


So Ann Koehler, Mary Crawford and I set to making the signs for the new playground. We drew out the letters on the 2x8 and 2x6 boards and then what? Time for the ROUTER. Dave picked it up, showed me what to do, and said do it. From 5" letters to 1 1/2" letters, I carved them in the wood! To say the least, my hands were cramping up that night. After all, I am used to making signs on a computer, not a piece of wood! Thanks Dave for showing me a new skill! I probably need to also thank Rick Myers for capturing the moment.

The playground is for the most part done! I few minor things remain. However, you need to go just south of Riverside Zoo and see it. It is truly amazing! After all as one of the signs reads:
"Imagined by Kids, Designed by the Community, Built by Volunteers"

I am very proud to part of such a wonderful project that brought all the cities together. The Mayor of Terrytown, Kent Greenwalt worked on it and the Mayor of Scottsbluff, Randy Meininger was there with the first aid station from Valley Ambulance. Luckily no major injuries. Just a lot of sore muscles! We did give Mayor Meininger grief about staying so clean!

Congratulations to the Kiwanis Clubs putting it all together, and to our "progressive, growing community of one". On behalf of the City of Scottsbluff, the City of Terrytown, Scotts Bluff County and the City of Gering, I commend all the volunteers for a job WELL DONE!

By the way, if you would like to find out more about Kiwanis, we meet on Thursday at noon at the Skyport Restaurant. Find out what amazing things you can do, one child, one community at a time.

Check out Rick Myers photos on the project at:
http://www.starherald.com/articles/2009/08/18/lifestyles/community/doc4a8a260d06025433914134.txt

Until next time....