Posted 1:13 am Friday, June 22, 2012
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Bullard Park Details Emerge
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
More details are being released about a Bullard playground project that is gaining momentum in the community.
On Thursday, the Bullard Economic Development Corp. was slated to receive additional information about the park design, construction and financing, among other things. Rachel Johnson, public relations chairwoman for the project, also planned to show a video to give BEDCO board members a glimpse of what the playground will look like.
The $250,000 community-built project, temporarily called Bullard Kid’s Park, will entail two areas — one for younger children and one for older children. Jane Holman, a design representative from architectural company Leathers & Associates, told residents last month the equipment also allows for a lot of visibility so parents can keep a close watch on their children, and playgrounds created by the company have areas accessible to children with disabilities.
The park will include pavilions and restrooms and is set to be built from recycled materials on a two-acre site south of the city park. Construction will take place Jan. 16-20, and an estimated 1,200 volunteers will be needed to work four-hour shifts.
Staff Writer
More details are being released about a Bullard playground project that is gaining momentum in the community.
On Thursday, the Bullard Economic Development Corp. was slated to receive additional information about the park design, construction and financing, among other things. Rachel Johnson, public relations chairwoman for the project, also planned to show a video to give BEDCO board members a glimpse of what the playground will look like.
The $250,000 community-built project, temporarily called Bullard Kid’s Park, will entail two areas — one for younger children and one for older children. Jane Holman, a design representative from architectural company Leathers & Associates, told residents last month the equipment also allows for a lot of visibility so parents can keep a close watch on their children, and playgrounds created by the company have areas accessible to children with disabilities.
The park will include pavilions and restrooms and is set to be built from recycled materials on a two-acre site south of the city park. Construction will take place Jan. 16-20, and an estimated 1,200 volunteers will be needed to work four-hour shifts.
Ms. Johnson said since renderings are not yet available, those involved with the project are trying to let people know it will be sponsored.
For instance, residents will be able to purchase sponsorships for as low as $20 to have a child’s name engraved on a picket for the surrounding fence, which will separate the preschool area and the area for older children.
The plan is to begin fundraising and target specific businesses, and a foundation has already been set up for people who can make monetary donations, Ms. Johnson said.
“The whole point of the project is to build the community and give them ownership of something in the area,” Ms. Johnson said. “We’re looking to have visitors from Chandler, Jacksonville … Chapel Hill (and other towns). This is being built for everyone, but Bullard is a central location for this project. We’re trying to get out community awareness and what it will do for kids.”
Initially, the idea for the park came from a conversation with a couple of mothers.
One went to a similar park in another part of the country and another went to one in Longview, Bullard Rotary Club member Guy Martin has said, and they wondered whether Bullard could have a park like they saw. So the idea got to the rotary club, and members found Leathers & Associates, which creates community-built playgrounds.
The rotary club funded the initial cost of the project to get consultants involved, and the community will help assemble the playground. For now, the park is called Bullard Kid’s Park, but once school is back in session, it officially will be named by local students.
“It’s going to bring a lot of people into Bullard,” Martin has said. “This is the style of facility that moms and grandmothers like to be able to bring children to. It’s just going to be a big draw for Bullard. It’s not only going to be a recreational resource but an economic resource for the community.”
For more information on volunteering or making a donation, call 903-707-2183 or visit www.facebook.com/bullardtexascommunityplayground.
For instance, residents will be able to purchase sponsorships for as low as $20 to have a child’s name engraved on a picket for the surrounding fence, which will separate the preschool area and the area for older children.
The plan is to begin fundraising and target specific businesses, and a foundation has already been set up for people who can make monetary donations, Ms. Johnson said.
“The whole point of the project is to build the community and give them ownership of something in the area,” Ms. Johnson said. “We’re looking to have visitors from Chandler, Jacksonville … Chapel Hill (and other towns). This is being built for everyone, but Bullard is a central location for this project. We’re trying to get out community awareness and what it will do for kids.”
Initially, the idea for the park came from a conversation with a couple of mothers.
One went to a similar park in another part of the country and another went to one in Longview, Bullard Rotary Club member Guy Martin has said, and they wondered whether Bullard could have a park like they saw. So the idea got to the rotary club, and members found Leathers & Associates, which creates community-built playgrounds.
The rotary club funded the initial cost of the project to get consultants involved, and the community will help assemble the playground. For now, the park is called Bullard Kid’s Park, but once school is back in session, it officially will be named by local students.
“It’s going to bring a lot of people into Bullard,” Martin has said. “This is the style of facility that moms and grandmothers like to be able to bring children to. It’s just going to be a big draw for Bullard. It’s not only going to be a recreational resource but an economic resource for the community.”
For more information on volunteering or making a donation, call 903-707-2183 or visit www.facebook.com/bullardtexascommunityplayground.
