COOKEVILLE - Dirt is moving and site prep is underway at the future home of the Heart of the City Playground in Dogwood Park. Now comes the community’s opportunity to be a part of park history and offer a hand in playground construction.
      September 29 through October 4, 100s of volunteers will be needed to construct the 12,000 square-foot, all-inclusive, fully-accessible playground. A committee of volunteers worked with the community to raise funds for the project, now they are relying on the community’s continued support and enthusiasm to get the playground built.
      “The community has been extremely responsive since day one of our fundraising,” committee chairs said. “The children in the schools who helped design the playground in November 2014, all the way through the spring and summer where we held several huge community events to help fundraise our project. Our small community raised over $500,000 in less than a year to fund this project. I would say that is commitment. But we can’t stop there.”
      With more than 2,600 volunteer slots to fill over the six-day build, the committee is looking for both skilled and unskilled volunteers for everything from actual construction to light duty tasks like painting, landscaping, material runners, child care, food service, art, and even check-in table volunteers.
      “To put yourself in the ‘skilled’ category you have to be able to cut a straight line with a circular saw,” committee members said. “But there will be PLENTY of jobs for unskilled workers too! There will be way more unskilled folks than skilled!”
      Ideally, volunteers will be working in 4-hour shifts, but can come help for as little as an hour. Shifts are from 8 a.m. to noon, 12:30-5 p.m. and 5:30 to 8 p.m. each day of the build.
      Food, child care and a T-shirt for volunteers will be provided, along with the satisfaction of knowing you have made a positive contribution to the park and the community as a whole, organizers say.
      “It will be an unforgettable experience!” committee members said. “And the chance to work on something that will not only benefit our children now, but years into the future. And it's the only all-inclusive playground where special needs and non-special needs can play together in the Upper Cumberland!”
       Leathers & Associates, who is working with the committee to design and build the playground, has been building community-built playgrounds around the entire globe for more than 40 years and will offer guidance for build week.
      “Community-built projects inspire everyone who participates with a sense of ownership, so much so that they become a focus of community life,” committee member said. “People describe them as the experience of a lifetime. Families who help build will return for picnics and bring out-of-town guests to show them what the community accomplished together.”
      Local artists are also encouraged to volunteer their skills to help customize some of the playground components.
      “Each and every element in this playground has a local theme and if we do not have artists show up for build week our playground will not be as beautiful as we know it can be,” committee members said. “Each and every part of the TTU castle, Depot, Averitt Truck, Capshaw Cave Tunnel, Burgess Falls Rock wall and pirate ship is designed build week. We know our community is filled with artists who can paint their design on our playground for generations to enjoy!”
      Along with volunteers, the committee is seeking donations for build week, everything from drinks, to snacks, to fruit, to meals, to desserts, to paper products and tools. Especially tools, since all of the tools used for the project are being borrowed from the community.
      Additionally, financial donations are still being collected and several of the playground components are still available to be sponsored.
      “Also, if we raise enough funds between now and build week, there is a strong possibility we can build a restroom facility that will accommodate families and special needs access right next to the playground,” committee members said.      
      “The restroom will mirror the design of the existing restroom facility near the amphitheater to maintain a consistent look for our beautiful Dogwood Park.”
      To sign up for a volunteer shift, visit www.heartofthecitytn.com and click “Help Us Build” or email heartofthecityvolunteer@gmail.com.