Project Playground will look a bit different when it is rebuilt next year, and members of the community can get a peek next week at what it might look like.
There are two free, family-friendly meetings at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 at the University of Alaska Southeast Glacier View Room and at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11 at Centennial Hall Ballroom 1. The Project Playground Steering Committee is hosting the meetings, which will talk about the design process for the rebuild of the playground that was burned down April 24.
Representatives from Juneau-based Corvus Design and playground specialist Leathers &Associates will be present, along with members of the steering committee and City and Borough of Juneau staff. The design process has already begun, with gathering feedback from community members young and old.
“We have solicited comments and ideas from the community, including the schools, and we’ve incorporated a lot of feedback into the redesign, including better elements that welcome kids of all ages and abilities,” CBJ project manager Alexandra Pierce said in a release. “We’ll be presenting the results and general concepts that came out of that, where we are now and how we move forward.”
The city has already funded part of the rebuild with $1.3 million from an initial property insurance reimbursement from Lexington Insurance Company. That money is enough to build the new playground to the same specifications as the first one. Fundraising dollars will pay for any additional changes, including safety and accessibility improvements. The Juneau Community Foundation is managing donations, and has collected about $170,000 to date.
The steering committee is selling personalized fence pickets to raise further funds. Individuals or families can buy a fence picket for $60 and businesses can buy one for $120. The pickets will allow up to 17 letters (spaces included). Order forms are available at www.goprojectplayground.org and people can email pickets@goprojectplayground.org with any questions.
