THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603010192
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Fun Forest, Phase II, needs dentists and artists.
Mike Fitchett and Philip Johnson, committee members for the Fun Forest playground in City Park, are looking for artist and dentist volunteers to help give expression and characteristics to the turtle, shark and dinosaur to be built in the toddler's playground in May.
Fitchett explained that the aquatic animal designers suggested that artists and dentists who have experience with fine detail make great helpers in working with the stucco and concrete used in creating the animals.
Fun Forest, a three-acre playground, was built by volunteers and donated materials last spring. From May 1 to May 12, volunteers will add a toddler aquatic play area and a fossil dig.
With a blend of whimsy, science, discovery and nature, the park was designed and created so that children and adults could play safely, picnic or enjoy storytelling, stage presentations and nature trails.
The park is the largest handicapped-accessible park on the east coast. Every item is also labeled in Braille for the blind or vision-impaired.
Fitchett and Johnson volunteered for the Fun Forest project shortly after the Chesapeake Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce introduced the idea of building a park. The two served on the Tools and Materials Committee, and they spent almost a year drafting lists and gathering items such as nails and heavy machinery for use on the job site.
During the actual construction process, they took vacation time from their jobs and spent two weeks hammering and hauling as they helped build the stage, dragon, fort, castle, slides and picnic tables at the playground.
Johnson said telephone poles were the first big needed items on last year's supply list. More than 1,000 feet of poles were used to lay the foundation of the park.
``Fun Forest is one of the greatest projects that has ever happened to Chesapeake,'' Johnson said. ``And I still want to be a part of it. It's a work project from the heart.''
When plans for Phase II were introduced, they signed up to once again go after the needed materials.
But this year, Fitchett and Johnson are looking for donations of concrete, crushed stone, plaster, lathes and grout mix. The planners also said they needed specialized workers like welders and cutters to help teams of about 30 volunteers create the aquatics and fossil dig areas.
Besides working there, both men find time to enjoy the park they have helped create. Johnson spends time in the park with his granddaughters Whitney and Ashley Parker and Savannah Johnson. And on most Saturdays, Fitchett and daughter Casey can be found playing at Fun Forest. MEMO: For information about Fun Forest, call 482-4397. To volunteer to help,
call the Volunteer hotline at 482-3496. To make material donations, call
455-4332. by CNB