'In Five Days, We're Gonna Build It'

'In Five Days, We're Gonna Build It'

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Story Published: Jun 14, 2006 at 3:07 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 8:27 AM PDT

By Molly Shen

KIRKLAND - It will take five and a half miles of lumber, 40,000 bolts and screws, 70 gallons of sealer and stain, 800 volunteers and 5 days.

"It's like climbing Mount Everest," said organizer Kevin Miller. "We've gotten everything ready and in five days here we're gonna build it. We're gonna climb the mountain."

This "mountain" is a park and playground, built from the ground up.

The North Rose Hill neighborhood in Kirkland decided a year ago that they needed a new playground.

"Why? For one thing, I live nearby. And I have an 11-year-old daughter," says volunteer Jeff Trager. "I know this is a place she's going to be."

In addition to a massive effort by hundreds of neighborhood and community volunteers, local kids are helping with every aspect.

Students from Mark Twain Elementary submitted designs that became the real designs that are now becoming a reality.

Neighborhood children are helping to build it, and they already helped pay for it.

"They actually awhile back went through their toys and sold some toys to donate the money," volunteer Leslie Holle says of her kids. "So they really felt like they were part of it."

The city of Kirkland, and King County also chipped in.

But no one here wanted local government to bear all the sweat and money.

"It wouldn't have been something necessarily that people drive by in the next five years or 10 years or 15 years and remember that I went out there that day and I helped build that," says Miller.

It will be a source of pride. But best of all, it'll be one nice playground.

"They'll be all over it," says volunteer Roger Gregorich of the neighborhood kids. "They'll love it. It's gonna be exciting!"

The final design includes a wheelchair accessible castle, a tree fort, a walk-on chessboard and more.

Volunteers are working in shifts from 8 in the morning until 8 at night.

The playground opens Sunday evening, on Father's Day.

For More Information:

www.playgroundproject.org

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