Don’t let a playground go un-built! Another call for Roxhill Castle

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Leathers and Associates rendering of new Roxhill Park play area)
Some volunteers have stepped up since the last announcement seeking volunteers for the “community build” that is required to get Roxhill Park‘s new Castle in place November 2nd through 6th – but there’s still room on the roster, says organizer Mat McBride:

Hey do-gooder, the Roxhill Park Needs You. This park may go unrealized for the lack of a few more folks willing to give just a little more. There are currently about 68,000 people over the age of 18 in West Seattle. To date, this project has about 140 volunteers. A lot, but not nearly enough. If you are one of the 67,860 adults in West Seattle who hasn’t yet signed up, don’t assume someone else will do the good work for you. Trust me, I do a lot of volunteering, I’ve run the numbers, and That isn’t happening.

I am asking you for 4 hours. If you care about parks, kids, social justice and equity, community, or crime – I’m asking you for 4 hours. Give this project 4 hours of your life and you will have made a difference. Sound like a stretch? It isn’t. This park has a direct link to all of these things. This place matters. In return, you’ll get fed by a local joint you love. You’ll get some great exercise (oh, hello calorie-rich holiday season, I wasn’t expecting you so soon). You will get the immense satisfaction of having joined in something larger than yourself and making a difference (I am not exaggerating this).

I’m asking for just 4 hours. Claim your place here: http://doodle.com/gusyyykv9zzrdksy

Can’t do 4 hours, but still want a part of the action? This project has partnered with the West Seattle Tool Library, who will provide some of the tools and supplies that will build this park. We don’t have enough of either right now, and your gift or donation to the Tool Library will help the build the park and the library at the same time (our greatest needs are: ladders, air compressors, sliding compound miter saws, cordless impact drivers, and electric impact wrenches). To make a gift or donation to the West Seattle Library, contact Micah Summers, the Tool Library director – micah@wstools.org.

The community website for the project is here. P.S. Please note that volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Marco October 23, 2012 (2:04 pm)

We asked and were told we shouldn’t bring the kids … sorry, we’re out.

WSB October 23, 2012 (2:15 pm)

They had to make it an 18+ event. It wasn’t a capricious decision or anything anti-child … would have been easier if they could have gone all-ages because you can rope in more students (high-schoolers are required to compile volunteer hours these days). We have noted this in earlier stories but I’ll add it to this one to be sure it’s clear – Mat’s language about population 18+ might not be interpreted that way otherwise. – TR

lina October 23, 2012 (2:29 pm)

I am on the planning committee and yes, the builder has stipulated that no one under 18 be involved in the construction – it was not up to us. However – we are planning some activities for kids who’s parents or caregivers are volunteering. The activities will be right outside the construction zone and all kids are welcome. I have a toddler and we will all there. My partner and I will be trading on and off on Sunday and hang out in the kids area so that we can still serve and be involved.

If you have ideas or would like to support this part of the project, please visit the website and contact us. We can find ways to bring you in. Also, there are a number of other ways to help out. A family could make food or cookies or something for volunteers and bring it over, that would be another great way to involved young children. It just takes a little creative thinking – don’t be deterred from helping out because you have little ones – all the more reason to come out or find a way to help!
Lina

Amanda October 23, 2012 (2:30 pm)

The Steering Committee (I am a member) are looking for possible solutions to the child care dilemma. Any suggestions? Own a daycare? Own The Little Gym? Maybe you run a Community Center and can open the doors for a special Toddler/Kids gym session?

Amanda October 23, 2012 (2:30 pm)

Beat me to it Lina :)

lina October 23, 2012 (2:56 pm)

Yeah Amanda, we are on it! :) I love your suggestions!

susieq October 23, 2012 (5:21 pm)

Lina & Amanda, if you can provide a facilitator, I can offer up some activities for kids! I’m a longtime volunteer for Roxhill Park, and we have teaching units and “trunks” for activities centered on the natural life and history of the park. At past events, we’ve had children look at pond life up close, draw pictures of what they see, listen to a storyteller, identify birds, or make cattail mats like Native Americans did. Perhaps Parks could provide a shelter for activities if the weather is wet. It would be so fabulous if families with children could enjoy the park together, even if they’re doing different activities. Let’s build community!

lina October 23, 2012 (7:43 pm)

Thanks Susieq, that sounds awesome! Can you email roxhillcastle@gmail.com your contact information and we will be in touch. The bog is wonderful and I would love to celebrate it as well and get kids exploring this little treasure.

lina

I'mcoveredinbees October 23, 2012 (9:39 pm)

I’m in. Thanks for the reminder… Come on people!!!

Velo_nut October 24, 2012 (8:00 am)

From a project management stand point, this seems completely ill-planned.
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Who plans community construction parties during the worst weather months?
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If this had been scheduled for the spring/ summer months we could have made it a community outing and quite possibly hastened construction with extra laborers.

miws October 24, 2012 (8:12 am)

From the link in the paragraph immediately below the rendering:

October 2012
Parks issued the Notice to Proceed for this project on September 10, 2012 to Grindline Construction. The contractor started work which included the demolition of the old play area.

Due to a materials delivery delay, the community build event has been moved to November 2 -6.

Mike

WSB October 24, 2012 (8:18 am)

I don’t have the time to go pull the links – if you are really interested, you can search the site for “roxhill playground” – but this has been a long, long process to get here. If you go through the long, long process and then say “OK, we’re only building during the narrow window of semi-guaranteed good weather,” not much will get done. And as we all know, even the semi-guaranteed good weather period is not so … this summer, it rained forever, then went to the surprising stretch of rainlessness. AND the only reason this particular contractor – which requires community builds – is being used, is because the community members who cared enough to participate in the design process wanted something with some character, as opposed to the other suppliers.

Amanda October 24, 2012 (12:27 pm)

You are correct Velo Nut. But that’s not what is happening. This is Seattle, we all do things in the nasty weather. Otherwise, we wouldn’t do anything at all! Come, join your neighbors! We have food.

Lina October 24, 2012 (1:00 pm)

Thank you WSB for clarifying, there are many things that the amazing folks spearheading the re-build do not have control over. When the opportunity finally arrived for us to get this park built – there was no more waiting and we just had to make it happen with the weather/resources that we have. If every community endevor waited till every single duck was in a row and everything was perfect – nothing would ever get done. Velo_nut, the success of this project is up to all of us so why don’t you come out and join us – we could use all the help we can get. It still can be (and is) a community outing regardless of weather, we live in Seattle.

JeriO October 24, 2012 (5:35 pm)

Well said Lina! This is a project for our community. We just have to step up to help. Velo_nut, I agree it is too bad that the timing is a little wonky but there have been really bad summer months here too. So, the project goes forward, we focus on the upside (we get a beautiful updated park!) and we all do what we can to help get it done. If people can’t volunteer for the build there are other ways to support the effort. Check out the links in the story.