Video: Roxhill Castle rising, as volunteers go into Day 3

In photojournalist Nick Adams‘ video updating the volunteer construction under way for Roxhill Castle, the voice you hear is that of Mat McBride, a longtime community advocate who has been the volunteer ringleader for the effort to get the play structure built. This afternoon will mark the midway point of the five-day build, whose roots go back more than 4 years, to the project list for the Parks and Green Spaces Levy, which included money for renovating Roxhill Playground. Now, the actual construction of the new Roxhill Castle is here, powered by hundreds of volunteers.

It’s also powered by tools from the West Seattle Tool Library:

See more of how Roxhill Castle is rising, in 15 photos ahead:

Some have come from outside West Seattle, like Donna Hartmann-Miller from North Seattle:

Lashanna Williams came from South Park:

But it doesn’t really matter where you’re from – right now, it’s teamwork to make sure area kids – and visitors – have a place to play again. Kids like 4-year-old Sarah Deppe:

Saturday’s volunteers also included Seanix Zenobia:

Along with wielding the tools, you have to know how to keep them running. Jesse Ballentine was pointing out where to get a replacement battery for a drill:

Unwrapping more of the components were Rebecca Duke and Casey Margell:

Many hands make light work, it is said, even in an extensive project like this:

It’s an echo of the mid-’90s, when the previous Roxhill Castle, designed by the same company – Leathers and Associates – also was put up as a community effort:

Cooperation matters to every inch of the project:

And consultation (that’s volunteer Mike at right):

The overall site plan is attached to a fence at the site – the playground is south of where Roxhill Skatespot is being built by Grindline, even as this proceeds.

Grindline’s contract with Seattle Parks covered preparation of the playground site before the community build, making way for volunteers like Nico Lovejoy:

And Sabara Oehlschlaeger-Browne:

And Rod Read:

And, below right, Tara Baron:

… and so many others. You can join them today, tomorrow, or Tuesday – just head over to the site, along 29th SW just south of Barton, across the street from the south side of Westwood Village.

8 Replies to "Video: Roxhill Castle rising, as volunteers go into Day 3"

  • Mike D. November 4, 2012 (8:19 am)

    Forget your ‘work out’ at the gym or that run at Alki, go join in and get your sweat-on at the Roxhill Castle Build! Great energy, great people and a great project!
    =
    Be sure and thank project superintendent Barry, he has done an incredible job managing the hundreds of volunteers and assigning then to tasks and fielding thousands of questions.

  • WSMama3 November 4, 2012 (8:46 am)

    Thank you all so much! My kids will LOVE playing here – we appreciate your work & time!

  • Andi November 4, 2012 (5:20 pm)

    My husband’s been there all weekend– I’m so proud of him and the others who have donated their time and energy for this. Our son and so many other children will have a fun, safe place to play for years to come!

    • WSB November 4, 2012 (5:27 pm)

      We just stopped by before dusk and it’s wonderful to see in person, too big a site for photos to really represent. We’ll put up a few more later.

  • Harmony Hasbrook November 4, 2012 (6:49 pm)

    My husband and I have been trading off childcare and shifts at the park. Everyone has been so awesome. Thank you to the businesses and individuals who donated food to keep us all working. Especially Zippy’s burgers tonight. What a treat at the end of hard days work.

    It’s never too late to volunteer. Trust me you don’t need any previous skills. Come learn to work a chop saw, a router and a tape measure. If you aren’t doing anything Monday or Tuesday get your butt down there to help. We NEED YOU!!!

  • Holli November 5, 2012 (9:19 pm)

    @WSBlog it’s true this project is too big for pictures to fully capture, but Nick has done a stellar job!

  • denise Nelsen November 7, 2012 (9:09 am)

    A huge thanks to Matt and Whitney Mcbride for advocating and working soooo hard on this magical project. So many people came to help. The whole park is made with love. I feel lucky to be a part of it.

    • WSB November 7, 2012 (10:02 am)

      We’re just back from stopping by the site – where Whitney is among the followup crew today – and will have an update later this morning on where it all stands, post-official build days. – TR

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