THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 24, 1995 TAG: 9503240003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
The first community-built megaplayground in Hampton Roads was Fort Fun in Newport News, erected almost three years ago in less than a week.
Melissa Goodson, a Newport News mother who proposed the playground and oversaw the 3,500 volunteers who erected it, said recently, ``I look back most fondly to Build Week. That was a highlight of my life. It was just a wonderful time for both my husband and myself and also my friends.'' She visits Fort Fun, in Huntington Park, and feels good again watching and hearing children play.
One year later, volunteers built Kids Cove at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach. The playground draws as many as 22 school buses a day and 124,000 kids a year.
Now Fun Forest is about to be erected in Chesapeake City Park, off Greenbrier Road. Building dates are May 2 through May 7. The park's mazes, ladders, ramps, bridges, tunnels, swings and all manner of fun things will go up the same way barns were raised in pioneer days - in a hurry, with people coming from all over to help. The work will be hard, but the atmosphere will be festive, as volunteers glow from the good feeling that comes from helping.
The same New York architectural firm, Leathers and Associates, designed all three parks, after asking children in each city what they wanted.
Although the parks in Newport News and Virginia Beach have been a tremendous hit with parents and children, a worrisome cloud descended over the proposed Chesapeake playground when it was learned that Fairfax County was tearing down 25 similar playgrounds, which were 15 years old. The city cited liability and safety concerns, plus maintenance costs.
Fortunately, Chesapeake parents are ignoring Fairfax and going ahead with building plans.
And Newport News and Virginia Beach are keeping their megaplaygrounds. ``It's one of the nicest things that's happened in our park system,'' said Valerie King, parks district supervisor in Virginia Beach.
We applaud anything for children that's healthy and fun and costs their parents nothing. We applaud, too, the volunteers who will build the large, complex playground in a few days. Still applauding, we note that useful community projects like this one foster good feelings and new friendships. Everybody wins. MEMO: To volunteer to work a few hours, call 482-3496. Care for children will
be provided.To volunteer to work a few hours, call 482-3496. Care for
children will be provided. by CNB