week of 4/10/02
 
 
 

Playground brings out Haywood’s best
SMN
There’s still time to get involved in a Haywood County project that will have a lasting impact on the community and its children. The Community Built Playground will be constructed at the Waynesville Recreation Park April 17-21, and volunteers and financial contributions are still being sought.

This is not just your average playground. Anyone who has seen children’s eyes light up as they run from ramp to bridge to tower to fort knows the difference. It is like a castle or a fortress, a place where children can romp for long periods of time in safety and wonder. Besides fun, designers say there is a real fitness element built into the playground. In our health-conscious society, that is a real plus.

But this project is about more than children. If you want to see a similar playground, there’s one in Sylva behind their pool. It was built two years ago, and volunteers there remember it as one of the most satisfying projects they’ve ever been involved in. Attorney Jay Spiro was interviewed for an article in The Smoky Mountain News afterward, and said just that — it was a memorable community “coming together” that he would never forget.

So far, this community has indeed fallen in line behind this project. A committee of volunteers has been working diligently to elicit support from businesses, civic groups, local governments and individuals. The Waynesville Kiwanis and Ingles each contributed $25,000. Clyde Savings gave $5,000, and several have donated as much as $2,000. The towns and county have supported it generously, and Waynesville has allowed its equipment to be used.

“It has been a gratifying project so far,” said Larry Leatherwood, who has been the coordinator for the playground. “It seems like everybody I talk to wants to help.”

And why not. Volunteers don’t need to be carpenters or experienced with tools. People are needed to carry wood and nails, keep workers supplied with water, help with food, and do all sorts of other perhaps unglamorous but vital chores.

By Sunday night, April 21, this playground will be finished. When it’s over, those involved will be able to touch and see a tangible manifestation of their hard work. Perhaps more importantly, though, they’ll take away the satisfaction and memories of being a small part of something lasting.