week of 4/3/02
 
 
 
  Kid designed, volunteer built
Organizers prepare for April 17-21 construction days
By Scott McLeod
Kids in Waynesville don’t have much longer to wait before a playground they designed will be assembled in a massive community effort that will bring together hundreds of volunteers.

The Community Built Playground — set to be constructed April 17-21 — is being coordinated by Larry Leatherwood, but many people have played a part.

“Libba (Feichter) approached me and said she needed a general coordinator,” said Larry Leatherwood.

Feichter is a retired high school English teacher and now a Waynesville alderman, and Leatherwood is a former assistant superintendent and principal. Between them they have about 60 years of experience in education.

“You know, this is one of those things that will help the community,” said Leatherwood. “It’s not only a playground, but there is a fitness element that is built into it.”

Leatherwood now works as supervisor for Clark and Leatherwood Construction, so he has a general knowledge of construction. The company has also allowed him to coordinate the project while on company time.

The playground — which will be constructed across from the old pool at the Vance Street Park — was designed last year after the designers held a series of meetings with school children in Haywood County. It is a sprawling structure with parapets and towers, tied together with ramps and bridges.

Leatherwood said that the children wanted it to be unique to their hometown, and so a portion of Main Street will be replicated. They also wanted a covered pavilion for their parents to sit in while they played.

This is one of those projects where the people involved all want to spread the credit around, and that’s what happens when you try to find out exactly who came up with the idea for the playground.

According to Feichter, it was a “serendipitous” series of events.

Allison Best-Teague, the director of the Kids Advocacy Resource Effort, was attending a meeting in Sylva with Feichter. Sylva volunteers built a similar playground two years ago, and Best-Teague and her son often played there. She convinced Feichter to take a look at it.

“We need something like this in Waynesville,” Feichter remembers Best-Teague saying.

Feichter is a Waynesville aldermen, and sometime later she went to see Town Manager Lee Galloway to discuss the project with him. As she was leaving his office, Jane Harrison of KARE was calling the town office looking for her.

“Jane wanted us to get together and put together a committee. It has just been that kind of project,” said Feichter.

The Haywood Volunteer Center has helped coordinate labor, materials, tools and supervision. Several businesses and community groups have donated money, including $25,000 gifts from the Waynesville Kiwanis Club and Ingles. Clyde Savings Bank chipped in $5,000, and seven others have donated $2,000. The town of Waynesville contributed $30,000 plus the labor of town employees and the use of heavy equipment.

Leatherwood said several businesses have also donated much of the needed materials.

“It’s been a gratifying project so far,” said Leatherwood. “It seems like everybody I talk to wants to help. Lots of individuals and companies are lining up to get behind this. A whole shift from one department at the hospital is coming.”

The playground is designed by Leathers and Associates, who held the meeting with school children to get their input. According to estimates, the play ground would cost up to $240,00 if it was built with paid labor and materials were purchased at retail prices. At that price, the playground might not ever get built.

Feichter agreed that seeing people embrace the project — and give money and time — has been a gratifying experience.

“It’s just a thrill to me to see so many people getting behind this,” she said.