PORT ANGELES — The Dream Playground’s build manager will meet with volunteers on Monday to plan the June playground-raising.
Lee Archin of Play By Design will visit from Ithaca, N.Y. on Monday. He is the site coordinator who will oversee the six-day rebuild of the Generation II Dream Playground from June 22-27.
Hundreds of local volunteers will rebuild the playground at Third and Race streets in Port Angeles, and Archin will meet with various volunteers on-site throughout the day.
“This is really the kickoff moment where it gets real,” said Steve Methner, president of the Dream Playground Foundation, in a press release.
“Up until now, we’ve been planning, fundraising, ordering materials, clearing the site and praying for COVID to get out of the way.
“Lee’s visit is when we plan the build itself and all the nitty-gritty details of the week.”
Saturday pickup
In addition, volunteers already have removed the fencing and have saved the engraved pickets for people who would like to keep them as mementos.
They can be picked up on Saturday and on May 15.
Pickets can be picked up between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the picnic shelter at Erickson Playfields, which is adjacent to the playground.
Engraved pickets for the Generation II playground will be available for ordering as well.
All proceeds will support the rebuild effort through ,the Dream Playground Foundation.
Many volunteers are needed, Methner said.
To sign up, go to www.padreamplayground.org and click on the ‘donate or volunteer’ tab.
All construction skill levels are welcome, but skilled folks are definitely needed as well, Methner said.
Play By Design is the firm designing and guiding the rebuild effort, starting with a visit in May 2019 by lead designer Laura Sehn, who visited local grade schools to gather the imaginings of local kids.
Sehn revealed the new design later that week at the Vern Burton Center.
The Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Department, headed by Corey Delikat, has been doing much of the site preparation and coordinated the removal of the existing Dream Playground over the last 30 days, Methner said.
The original Dream Playground was built over six days in September 2002 by hundreds of volunteers and was one of the largest community projects Port Angeles has ever seen.
The Foundation plans to repeat the effort this June 22-27.
