Kid-designed playground construction planned for 2010
By RICK WOOD Staff Reporter
A design submitted by an elementary student whose first name is Bria contains several of the elements that went into the final design. There's no better architect for a playground than children themselves.
More than 200 students from Stanwood, Utsalady, Cedarhome and Elger Bay elementary schools recently submitted designs for a newly envisioned Stanwood Camano Community Playground to be located inside Freedom Park on Camano Island.
From pirate ships to swimming pools, the children gave their input and drew out designs with pencils and crayons.
The playground's designer Dennis Wille, of Leathers and Associates, who donated their design talents for the playground, helped motivate the kids to come up with creative ideas for what they wanted to see built.
"They experienced a lesson you cannot teach in class," said Wille. "It really shows how hard work combined with planning can equal the final outcome."
Wille, along with a team of volunteers, took the finished drawings and entered the results into a database.
"We saw recurring themes and ideas," he said.
The designer then worked out a final plan for the park that included elements of all of the children's designs.
"The final plan incorporates many different activities," said Wille.
Public debut of the final design took place at a community celebration at the Camano Senior and Community Center May 22.
Game tables, balance beams, bouncy bridge, tree house and a mirror maze help make up the nautical-themed design.
With volunteer labor and financial contributions, the park may be constructed as soon as next summer, said Wille.
Greg Gilday, an attorney in Stanwood and the project's coordinator, said he was more than happy to volunteer on the project.
"The Stanwood Camano Community Playground is a community effort," he said. "Volunteers and donations are what will make this playground a reality for our children."
Playground construction is slated to begin May 19, 2010.
For more information, visit iHeartParks.org or call -629- 2900.
Reporter Rick Wood: 629- 8066 ext. 104 or rwood@scnews. com.
