Roxhill Castle ’99 percent done’: See what the community built!

After five days of hard work by volunteers – with lots of community support, from food donations to West Seattle Tool Library tools – only finishing touches remain at Roxhill Castle, the new play structure in Roxhill Park, right next to where a skatespot is under construction. Volunteer coordinator Mat McBride tells WSB some site cleanup remains, and “one last punch-list work party” will be scheduled.

A few volunteers, plus a rep from Seattle Parks, are on site again today. They described it as 99 percent complete. McBride says they’re also planning to create a “Friends Of …” group for the playground, so be on the lookout for that.

In this video mentioned in WSB comments on an earlier story, he mentions how he got involved – someone commented on a WSB report during playground-design meetings that no kids had been there to offer their opinion. So he brought his. And the rest was history – to be enjoyed by the generations of kids ahead who will play on the new Roxhill Castle.

low bridge November 7, 2012 (12:55 pm)

You know what would be awesome? If Mat and Whitney’s kids are the first ones ever to use that sweet slide.

Apey November 7, 2012 (1:03 pm)

Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this happen! It looks wonderful!!!

Bonnie November 7, 2012 (1:36 pm)

Thank you awesome volunteers!

PG November 7, 2012 (1:49 pm)

Great job, everyone!

Idle November 7, 2012 (2:09 pm)

Thank you volunteers! The play structure looks great and is very reminiscent of the previous castle.

Mike D. November 7, 2012 (2:40 pm)

low bridge – Whitney, Mat should lead with the rest of the Roxhill Castle Build Steering Committee following for that maiden slide voyage! What a great group of organizers and leaders they all are!

WSB November 7, 2012 (2:46 pm)

This idea sounds so much more wonderful than a ribboncutting. Unless the first person down the slide breaks the easy-breakaway ribbon across the bottom :) – TR

Pete November 7, 2012 (3:27 pm)

Congrats to Mat and all of the volunteers he recruited that have made this project a huge success. Way to go Mat McBride you are a true ROCK STAR for our Delridge neighborhoods. Thanks for all that you do.

Seattlegal November 7, 2012 (3:33 pm)

Great job! The kids are going to love it. THANK YOU!

Kayla November 7, 2012 (3:34 pm)

It was great to be a part of this. Not only was a playground built–so was a community. Thanks everyone.

neighbor November 7, 2012 (4:18 pm)

Wow! Bee-yoo-tee-Full!

JeriO November 7, 2012 (5:32 pm)

To see the action on this project: the focus, the hard work, the smiling faces, ALL the helpers doing whatever they could…it made me so happy! Then to see the beautiful result, it’s truly wonderful! I hope you all feel very proud of what you accomplished! Thank you everyone!

Happy Delridge Neighbor November 7, 2012 (5:55 pm)

Love it!! Congratulations!! I played just a small part in this and was awed at the incredible number of folks working hard with big smiles on their faces. Shout out to Gabe for the insight that led to this community creation!

mcbride November 7, 2012 (7:52 pm)

By the community, for the community. I had high hopes for this project – the structure itself but also everything (and everyone) that made it possible. As others have mentioned, the smiles tell the story. The joy in a good deed well done. Every contribution was meaningful, and I believe the testament will not be the park itself so much as the inspiration it instilled. We learned to build, but more importantly, we learned that we Can.
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Best. Park. Ever.

lina November 7, 2012 (7:57 pm)

yeah! such a wonderful project to be a part of. The McBride’s definitely deserve first run down the slide! I look forward to many many years with my (now toddler) little boy. I brought him by the park on Monday to gaze longingly through the fence. He is psyched and so am I. Grateful for all my neighbors who worked SO SO hard to make this happen – long before the first post hole was dug.

Katie November 7, 2012 (11:41 pm)

Thank You to everyone that contributed! There are going to be a lot of happy kids playing there! God bless your willingness to give back to the community!

dameDonna November 8, 2012 (8:07 am)

AWESOME!!! We cannot wait to play! Thank you EVERYONE!!!

John Derby November 8, 2012 (12:19 pm)

I was invited by a friend to swing a hammer, or saw a board and I had a great time in the rain. I came away knowing how to share my toys including step ladders, speed squares, drill bits, and made some new friends in the process. It was great to work with complete strangers and to see a community pull together. If only Federal Way could do something like this or our nation.

Carol November 8, 2012 (1:49 pm)

Is it open yet?

WSB November 8, 2012 (1:53 pm)

No – there is still site work to be done, in addition to the finishing touches, and the skatespot next door is an active construction site. So it’ll be some weeks.

Carol November 8, 2012 (3:40 pm)

Thanks! My 4 year old grandson can’t wait. Oooohs got bigger with each picture, then he yelled “That is AWESOME”!!!!!

mcbride November 8, 2012 (9:00 pm)

John Derby,
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If you are thinking about starting a Leathers project in Fed Way, reach out to me at ro***********@***il.com. The build was a fabulous experience, but one you want to go into as prepared as possible for (there was about a year of effort that led up to those 5 days of work). I’d be happy to share my insights. Also, thanks for joining our community. Our nation happens best at the local level.