Charlotte, NC -- More than 4,000 citizens have volunteered to help build Mecklenburg County's first fully accessible playground September 29-October 5, 2008 in Nevin Park, 6000 Statesville Road, Charlotte.
Volunteers for this project include individuals, families, church groups, employee groups, clubs, fraternities, sororities, sports teams, etc. Construction shifts are scheduled each day, September 29-October 5, 2008 at:
- 8am–12:30pm
- 12noon–5:30pm
- 5pm–until shortly after dark.
Skilled and unskilled volunteers will help with hospitality, first aid, children's activities and actual construction.
This playground is now named "Race Playce." It will be a play area without barriers, accessible for all children regardless of their abilities, a place where all children can play together. The playground was designed by children who worked with a professional designer. It has a NASCAR racing theme with play areas distributed around an oval track. The former President of Lowe's Motor Speedway, H.A. Humpy Wheeler, is honorary chairman of the fundraising campaign for this project.
Photographs from a fixed camera showing the construction site at Nevin Park will be posted online and updated about every minute during the playground build. Anyone interested in monitoring progress of the playground may view the latest photo on the Park and Recreation website: www.parkandrec.com.
Construction of the playground culminates a campaign by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department and Partners for Parks, the non-profit agency that helps raise private money to help support public parks and greenspace. Additional contributors and volunteers are still sought.
Anyone may volunteer to help build Race Playce. Individuals are invited to come to the park to help with a shift on any day. Groups are asked to contact in advance Park and Recreation Volunteer Coordinator Lori Saylor at 704 336-5478 or Lori.Saylor@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov. People working on this project report a great sense of participation and accomplishment. They feel they are making a real contribution to the community. This is a big project, and Park and Rec can always use more assistance.
