For Immediate Release, Wednesday, October 10, 2006 
 

Parish President Calls for Volunteers
Amazing New Playground Taking Shape at Trailhead 

Parish President Kevin Davis is sending out a call for St. Tammany residents to join together during three upcoming weekends to help install and landscape an amazing new playground. This finest, state-of-the-art children’s playground in South Louisiana is about to be under construction in the middle of St. Tammany Parish at the St. Tammany Trailhead, on Koop Drive in Mandeville. The fenced-in, acre facility will be a model of safety, accessibility, fun and learning for children as well as adults.  

The Tammany Trace Foundation’s Kid's Konnection Committee is planning three gala community playground building weekends on October 19, 20, and 21; October 26, 27, and 28; and November 2, 3, and 4. Weekend volunteers are asked to come by and work as long as they can between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM during the 3 days of each weekend. Those on the work site must be at least 18 years of age, with those under 18 accompanied by a parent or with a group. Volunteers can bring tool kits and landscaping items. The Trace Foundation has contracted with Landscape Structures, the premier manufacturer of commercial playground and modular skate park equipment for parks, schools, churches and day cares, to provide the metal structure and supervise the build. Coffee, soft drinks, water, lunch and snacks will be provided for the volunteers. A number of corporate groups have already committed teams of workers with plans for team shirts and caps. Those bringing teams include: Ochsner, Resource Bank, Stirling Properties, Prudential Gardner, ASI Federal Credit Union, Mandeville Kiwanis and Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative. 

The Kid's Konnection Committee has contracted with Boundless Playgrounds® in an effort to design and construct a truly accessible playground for the children and families of South Louisiana. Other major construction is being donated by Wainer Brothers (developers), Byron Tabot Contractors (concrete preparation), John Bonneau (surveyors), LaFarge, Parish and SMI (concrete), Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative (electricity), Richard Lambert (site plan), Reece Landscape & Planners (landscape and irrigation plans) and Half Moon Gardens (sensory garden planning). 

The playground will incorporate a variety of play stations to build cognitive, social, motor and sensory skills. These play stations will include opportunities for sand and water play, music, climbing, balancing, swinging and imaginary play. Boundless Playgrounds® also incorporates landscaping that stimulates the senses through texture, sight and smell. Most importantly, this Boundless Playground® will address heightened safety concerns related to individuals with special needs. The company specializes in playgrounds that are as handicapped-accessible as possible while promoting parallel play for all children. The play surface is latex free to allow use by children with latex allergies. In addition, children and adults with cochlear ear implants cannot access certain plastic play events that create static. So vinyl-coated steel versions of the same events are a part of the playground. Musical elements and a sensory garden will provide interesting sound, touch and smell experiences for children with visual impairments. 

The Kid’s Connection Committee is a committed group of parents and professionals working under the Tammany Trace Foundation who believe that play is the foundation of learning for all children. It is, in fact, through play that children develop their first social bonds, learn to accept diversity and build relationships. Playing together, children can grow to better understand that we are all more alike than different and that we all have more abilities than disabilities. 

For more information on the project or to get involved, phone 985-626-KIDZ or 985-867-9490, email Susan McHugh- smpmchugh@aol.com or Lisa Pratt Maddox- lisap@stpgov.org, or simply visit www.kidz.la.

 

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