The weather has been cooperating for the most part as neighbors and local businesses rally together to build what the Parks, Recreation & Trails Advisory Board determined in 2012 was missing, a community-size playground.
Discover Ferndale reported a year ago when the City of Ferndale had been awarded a $230,000 matching grant to be used toward building the then proposed Star Park by Pioneer Park. This followed multiple annual applications for the same grant only to be denied, according to city staff.
This past week, the playground structures began rising from the patch of grass south of Pioneer Park.
Pictures from Friday (click to enlarge).
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All pictures: Discover Ferndale
According to city staff, as of Friday there had been about 1,000 volunteers show up to help in a variety of ways. Staff also noted that there has been only one injury (an ankle injury resulting from accidentally stepping into a hole).
But missing from the volunteer group has been enough skilled labor adept at using power tools and assembling structures. As a result, according to city staff, there is a risk of not meeting the self-imposed deadline to complete the project in time for a scheduled ribbon cutting at 5pm on Sunday, June 5th.
Friday’s plea from the city:
We are in drastic need of skilled labor. Unless we get another 20-30 people to help today, we are in danger of not finishing. If you have experience with power tools and can spare a few hours, please come as soon as possible.