St. Bernard Parish Community Playground
St. Bernard Parish 4-H Club members descended on Torres Park in Chalmette, Louisiana to assist in the Re-Build, Re-Pair, Re-Boot of the St. Bernard Parish Community Playground on April 9-13, 2008. The playground received extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina where it was covered by approximately twenty-two feet of water. The area was under water for two weeks until the water receded and then was covered in storm debris and mud. After the storm, the park was surrounded by FEMA trailers where parish government employees lived as they rebuilt St. Bernard. In January of 2008, just as the trailers were being removed from the park, the playground sustained a fire set by an arsonist. About one-third of the playground was destroyed.
Just as in 2003, when the 12,000 square foot playground was built, the community rallied to restore it for the youth of St. Bernard Parish. The 4-H Club members were part of a large group of nearly 1500 volunteers who worked for five days to rebuild the playground.
Thirty two 4-H Jr. Leaders and younger club members volunteered 228 hours to rebuilding the playground. 4-H Jr. Leaders began preparing for the playground build by participating in the Playground Design Day in January. Club members also helped recruit volunteers by hosting a sign up table at the unveiling of the new playground design. Jr. Leaders also helped by participating in the volunteer call-a-thon, answering volunteer emails and organizing the work day schedules.
During the playground build days, Jr. Leader Club members spread rock and mulch, rolled out felt liner, painted, sanded, routed, drilled and hammered all week to help make the playground build a success. 4-H Club Members from Chalmette High School, Chalmette 8th Grade Club, Trist Middle School and Lynn Oaks participated with their clubs during the week. Jr. Leader Club members took on leadership roles directing other 4-H Club members in specific tasks. When asked why she had spent 24 hours helping rebuild the playground, Jr. Leader Club Vice President Mary Beth Tamor replied she "enjoyed restoring a part of St. Bernard that had been destroyed, so that younger children could have a safe, fun environment to play, and be kids." | | Gary and Mary Beth display the 4-H Centennial Banner at the playground celebrating the completion of 228 volunteer hours by 4-H Club Members to help rebuild the St. Bernard Parish Community Playground. |
| | The Playground under water one day after Hurricane Katrina August 30, 2005. |
| | Fire envelopes the playground on January 1, 2008. |
| | 4-H Club members tackle moving and spreading one of the five large piles of mulch that make up the playground surface. |
| | Lynn Oaks 4-H Club Members volunteer to help build the playground. |
| | | Chalmette High School and Jr. Leader Club Members roll out hundreds of yards of felt to prevent weeds from growing through the lime stone and mulch surface of the playground. |
| | Patrice sands and paints the datil on the castle entrance. |
| | Dustin and Scott work hard building a tire swing. |
| | Amanda and Dana help out with their carpentry skills. |
| | Gary helps put sealer on wood and move it to the cutting station. |
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| Posted on: 4/18/2008 10:08:02 AM |
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