After over a year of planning and fundraising that has tapped every source from state funds to lemonade stands, the new Niantic Park playground is set to become a reality. All that’s needed now is for Islanders to lend helping hands, tools, or organizational skills, at the four-day “playground raising,” which begins Wednesday, Oct. 14, and runs through Sunday night, Oct. 18.
Over 100 volunteers a day are needed, with jobs ranging from skilled trades to laborers to serving food to moral support, according to a press release. Over 50 percent of the volunteer spaces are still not filled.
Tools are also in short supply. The group needs metal garden rakes, long-handled shovels and spades, 25-foot extension cords and stepladders between six and 12 feet tall.
“With a big vision and a short build window, we really hope Islanders will help support future generations with their time and talent,” Greg Erman, chairman of the Niantic Park Building Committee, said. “This project really embodies what the Island stands for — dedication, community, and family.”
The building site will be lighted, and construction will go well into the night on each of the four days. People are asked to sign up for four-hour shifts if possible.
The Niantic Park Playground Project (NPPP) began in 2014 with a small group of parents committed to improving the rundown 30-year-old playground. The new playground will cost $126,000. $118,000 has been raised to date, and the NPPP is seeking tax-deductible donations to close the funding gap. Anyone who wants to pitch in with donations of time and/or money can do so at the NPPP Facebook page: facebook.com/NPPProject. Islanders can also sign up for shifts by contacting Holly Thomas at 508-776-0379, or by email at hathomas@hotmail.com.