Correction: An earlier version of this article erroneously spelled Lisa EaganLagerquist’s surname with a space between Eagan and Lagerquist. It’s been fixed below.
Almost every day Lisa EaganLagerquist is asked by a child when the playground at Twin Lakes will be finished.
EaganLagerquist is one of the City and Borough of Juneau Project Playground managers. The city and the Project Playground steering committee have been at work on the playground shortly after it burned down April 24, 2017, which was just shy of its 10-year anniversary of being built.
Currently, the rebuild is in phase one of the redesign. This week, Carver Construction is installing all the major structural elements which include a roof for the ice castle and the various levels of the playground, EaganLagerquist said. The goal is to have phase one 95 percent complete after next week when slides, swings and other playground equipment are put into place. The rebuild began May 29.
“We are more or less on schedule, but the contractors have been doing a lot of hard work,” EaganLagerquist said in a phone interview with the Empire Tuesday. “They have been working 10-hour days six or seven days a week. They are really dedicated and working hard to get it ready for the community.”
Phase two is where the community comes in. Project Playground is seeking help from people for construction captains, first aid volunteers and other roles. Construction captains must have experience leading crews. In addition to people, the Project Playground Steering Committee is also asking for donations of tools, coffee and snack items. Foodland/Superbear IGA has volunteered to supply lunches and dinners to volunteers. EaganLagerquist said the response has been good so far but there are still many spots left to fill. There are several spots remaining for each of the five days of volunteering from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. on Aug. 8-12.
“I think the community is very enthusiastic and eager to help,” EaganLagerquist said. “But there is still lots of space.”
After the community build portion, the final phase will take place. The last phase includes finishing miscellaneous projects and placing in the poured-in-place surface. Poured-in-place is a rubber surface that allows for better accessibility and safety. Nearly all of the playground will be filled with poured-in-place rubber except for an area where there will be artificial turf.
If the weather cooperates and the project continues to go according to plan, EaganLagerquist said, the playground could be ready by the end of September or early October.
“In the construction world, it will be amazing to have it completed in this short period of time,” EaganLagerquist said. “I know it means a lot to a lot of the members of the community.”
EaganLagerquist said the estimated cost for the entire project, including the demolition and cleanup of the damaged playground, is approximately $2.2 million. It is mostly being funded with CBJ insurance, but additional money has come in from donations and fundraising. CBJ Deputy City Manager Mila Cosgrove said the city’s insurance has paid for $1.34 million of the project and about $309,000 in donated funds between grants and community fundraising.
Anyone interested in volunteering, buying a fence picket to help fund playground improvements or finding more information about the project and the community steering committee can visit www.goprojectplayground.com or email volunteer@goprojectplayground.org. There is also a Facebook page for updates on the effort.
• Contact reporter Gregory Philson at gphilson@juneauempire.com or call at 523-2265. Follow him on Twitter at @GTPhilson.
