Wednesday, July 13, 2005

build in Buffalo


Last Friday (July 8), Hope led an amazing, much-needed and transformative playground build in a very low income Buffalo neighborhood called the Fruit Belt--named after its fruit-basket of street names. Jen De Melo was her Superstar Second, Bob Woodson her smiley PSI Rep, and Bob Hedden her incredible installer. The Home Depot and the Fruit Belt United, Inc--a small neighborhood association that operates to benefit the community and for the promotion of social welfare--joined forces with neighbors, parents and a few other local groups (191 volunteers in all) to transform a small, empty lot into an extraordinary playspace. Despite some communication challenges throughout the planning, like no (direct) online access, and after digging through foundation on both Prep Days with 2 (unplanned) two-man augers and a jack-hammer, they were finally ready for the big day. After a slow start on Build Day, the momentum grew as the music got going and people starting coming out of the wood-work to help out. After lunch, kids put their final touches on the side projects while volunteers mixed concrete, moved the remaining mulch (110 CY in all), and cleaned up for an on-time Board-cutting at 3:30. As everyone gathered for the ceremony, a small parade of youth eagerly lined up, cautiously peered inside the playspace, and then intermingled with the volunteers to celebrate their new playground. Everyone was so excited and awestruck by the playground that the party didn't stop after the heart-felt Board-cutting ceremony. The DJ threw on some more tunes as volunteers finished cleaning up and celebrating in style.

Side Projects:
2 planter benches
2 picnic tables (one w/ a checker board top)
3 vine trellises
3 plywood benches w/ large cut tubing as the legs (designed by the kids)
Stepping Stones
Crushed-stone pathway
Garden
Painted iron fence
Installed chain-link fence
Installed mural on surrounding chain-link fence (in 1'x1' panels done by neighborhood kids, previous to this project)
Kid's Workshops
Painted flowers on sheets of masonite (to cut out and mount around the playground later)

Media:
ABC
The Buffalo News (paper)

VIPs:
George Holt, County Legislator
Don Allan, Sr., Commissioner of Community Service
Sister Philip Marie
John Tobia, DM
Brian Spence, SM
Mike King, SM
Tim Burgett, SM

on the road again...

we're about to hit the peak season at work, and i'll probably only be home for about 5 days this month. check it out:

dc - june 27-july 1
western nc - july 1-5
buffalo, ny (and niagara falls, for the first time!) - july 5-9
home (san francisco) - july 9-11
minneapolis, mn - july 11-15
home (SF) - july 15-18
chicago - july 18-19
home - july 19-23
wasilla, ak - july 23-31
...

crazy, huh? well, it sure keeps me busy, but i'm missing the opportunity to hang out with friends and to spend quality time in SF... :( oh well.