The Amazing Community Playground
Story By Clark Byron
What makes the new playground so unique is that kids designed it. Leather & Associates, the architects of the project, incorporated many drawings made by children. The kids were asked to create their image of the ideal playground on paper. “We incorporated everything the kids said they wanted except the hot tub,” said Hillary Brodofsky, the Y’s Executive Director. “That’s our running joke now.”
The playground is designed so that children can go from one element to the other, traversing the entire course without ever touching the ground. There are conventional and specially designed monkey bars, climbing walls, bridges, fireman poles, rocket ships, therapeutic swings for special needs kids and more. You can roll a wheelchair right up to the playground equipment.
The theme of the playground is Transportation and some of the sponsors, such as JCB and Great Dane Trailers, have incorporated some of their own designs into the mix.
“It’s a very tactile playground,” said Brodofsky. “We’ve got music stations and different sensory type options.”
The play area is geared toward children ages 5 - 12. Another phase called the Tot Lot designed to serve preschool children is also in the offing. The land for the Tot Lot has been cleared and fundraising is now underway.
“Lots of volunteers came out to help,” said Brodofsky. “We really rallied the troops.”
Community volunteers, father and son teams, church groups, and crews from sponsoring companies were among the 300 who pitched in. Brodofsky estimates that volunteer labor and donated or reduced-cost materials tallies to about $250,000. “It was really inspiring,” said Brodofsky. “It was great to see the community respond in that manner.”
Sponsorships came from a variety of sources and in different forms. Naturally, there was the need for cash and donated materials, in addition to the free labor, and it all came. Cash gifts arrived from individuals, local small businesses and from major corporate support.
The lead gift came from JCB Inc. of Georgia, a worldwide manufacturer of heavy earthmoving equipment. JCB’s $30,000 gift laid the financial foundation for the rest of the community’s participation. “We, as a global company, have a corporate giving mandate to support children’s charities in the area of wellness, education and development,” said Karen Guinn, Communications Manager at JCB. “In the 10 years JCB has been here we’ve formed a very strong tie with the YMCA.” JCB also provided tractors to move dirt.
A key partner that helped set the site was the TIC Industrial Company in Savannah. According to Brodofsky, TIC sent a 10-person crew for a solid month to clear the land and set the posts. The playground did not come in a kit as most playgrounds do. This one is built from scratch, with just raw materials and the plans.
The West Chatham YMCA playground is just off Pooler Parkway between the YMCA and the new municipal recreation complex. The project should be finished sometime around May 13. It is open to the public. No YMCA membership is necessary. Brodofsky said that because so many in the community came out to build it, they will likely help take care of it as well.
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