Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030037
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-18 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
"We're still in the start-up phase, and moving close to the design phase," said David Venne, owner of Pulaski's Golden Corral restaurant and one of those pushing the project.
The Pulaski YMCA is providing a site for the planned Pulaski County playground, which would be built with the assistance of Leathers and Associates, an Ithica, N.Y., firm which has completed more than 1,000 similar projects nationally including playgrounds in Blacksburg and Wytheville. The firm is working with Giles County citizens on a similar playground.
"We're right on the brink of bringing them in, if we can mobilize a county-wide effort," Venne said. "A modern-day barn-raising is what it's likened to."
Venne and his family, including his 12- and 14-year-old sons, became enthused about the possibilities of such a playground when they saw one on a visit to La Crosse, Pa. Venne took photographs of the playground and put them on display at the Golden Corral.
The Pulaski project is a spin-off from the town's YMCA board, although those who use the playground need not have a Y membership. It would be like the jogging trail the Y created about seven years ago for public use.
Venne and Jack Leahy, executive director at the Y, first talked about a community playground more than six months ago. Now, they've decided to get it started.
"I have seen a lot of pride, a lot of things, that have been accomplished around here," Venne said, such as restoring the county courthouse, renovating the town Train Station and reviving Pulaski's Main Street. A community that proclaims itself a good place to work and play should have a playground, he said.
The life expectancy of this type of playground is a quarter of a century, representing "25 years of free family entertainment," Venne said. "We're being optimistic. We're hoping for late spring construction. ... But it's going to take some work over the next eight or nine months to make it happen."
Several businesses already have expressed interest in donating to the project. Rather than large donations, Venne said, "what we would like to see is everybody contributing just a few dollars." The county will need some $7,000 for the project, about a third to half as much as a commercially built playground would cost.
Leathers involves local people, including the children who will use it, in the playground design and much of the work is done with volunteer labor and donated materials. Area parent groups and service organizations will be approached and asked to participate.
As planned, the playground would include multilevel wooden structures with interconnecting tunnels, ramps and facilities such as a wooden train engine, overhead rings, spiral slides and swings. "They are designed for continuous, active play," to improve coordination, upper body strength and to provide other physical benefits to growing children. Venne said.
There would also be adult seating areas. The playgrounds are "really enjoyed by parents and grandparents as much as the children," Venne said, because they give adults a chance to relax and socialize while supervising their children.
Eventually, Venne foresees expanding the facilities to include courts for volleyball and basketball. "That's part of a larger vision. What we're definitely going to work for is to make the playground handicapped-accessible," he said.
People can volunteer or get further information by calling Venne at 980-1723, Leahy at 980-3671 or Gloria Venable at 674-0810.
by CNB