There’s a new playground at Sandy Beach Park featuring slides, swings, monkey bars and a climbing area. Volunteers spent several days last week putting it together.
Kids, parents, grandparents and volunteers celebrated the finished construction on Wednesday. Katie Anastas created an audio postcard from the event.
Rotary Club treasurer Desi Burrell said the previous playground had been in disrepair for a while. After talking with parents and grandparents, she wanted the Rotary Club to get involved.
“Sandy Beach is such a fun place to come and bring your family,” Burrell said. “There are so many things to do with the beach and the woods. It’s a place I grew up. I learned to swim here. This is where we played.”
The old playground had just two swings and one slide. The new one has two slides, several swings, monkey bars and climbing platforms. A large, round swing was especially popular during Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting festivities.
Burrell said 100 families and individuals donated to the project. The Petersburg Department of Parks and Recreation, the Petersburg Indian Association and several community businesses also contributed money and time.
Stephanie Payne, director of the Petersburg Department of Parks and Recreation, said she was thankful for the community support during all stages of the project. Volunteers worked through rainy weather.
“Everybody just put on their Xtratuf’s and their rain gear and came out and jumped in, standing in puddles, fishing tools out of puddles,” she said. “It’s a big testament to our area and the way that people care for each other to make it better for the entire community. That is what I see when I look at this playground. It’s the culmination of everybody pitching in to make it a great place.”
Maura O’Brien Phillips brought her grandchildren and their friends to the playground.
“It is absolutely beautiful,” she said. “It was a lot of work, and it’s going to be enjoyed by many, many kids.
