HAZEL PARK, Mich — A new playground set is being built this week at Scout Park in Hazel Park, but more volunteers are needed to make sure the project is complete by Saturday.
The park came as a gift in the form of a grant from the Sutar-Sutaruk-Meyer foundation totaling $350,000. Part of the conditions of the grant is that the park be built through volunteer work.
The work started on Monday in the rain with around 50 people showing up for the morning shift.
Melissa Baldwin is one of many volunteers helping out. She says she gave up her day job to volunteer on project likes this one, and is now a member of the recreation advisory board.
“My kids do come here and play so it’s going to be really awesome to be able to come to not only a brand new playground, but it’s going to be huge, it’s going to be awesome,” said Baldwin.
Once constructed, this playground set will be the largest in Hazel Park with a wide range of amenities.
“There’s a swaying boat so that’s kind of neat, there is a maze portion of it, there’s also some musical elements and there’s also some special needs accessibility, so they can all play together,” said Baldwin.
Volunteers will be working from 8 a.m. until dusk on three separate shifts to get the work done. They have around 50 volunteers signed up right now per shift, and they are looking for around 150 a shift to get the playground up and running.
No experience is needed in order to volunteer, and food will be provided for those who take the time to help.
For more information and to sign up to work a volunteer shift, click here.
