 The Dream Playground Foundation is delighted to announce that the dedication and grand opening of the volunteer-rebuilt Dream Playground will be held Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 3pm. The event will be held at the main entrance. Welly's Real Fruit Ice Cream will provide FREE ice cream thanks to a sponsorship from Molina Healthcare.
The Dream Playground was originally built over seven days in August 2002 by community volunteers . It was rebuilt in 10 days by volunteers in 2021 after 19 years of great service. In December 2023 it was largely destroyed in an arson fire. In six months, the Dream Playground Foundation, with donated help from demolition, earthwork, and surveying companies, dozens of local businesses, hundreds of volunteer workers and a strong partnership with the City of Port Angeles, has overseen a ground up-rebuild, culminating in a 5-day community construction event . The facility now just needs paver work, swings, and final inspections before the opening June 16.
Methner posted a message to the Port Angeles community on the Foundation’s website HERE. Everyone is invited to the dedication and grand opening.
1 Comment
PORT ANGELES: YOU DID IT! The Playground is rebuilt, and the dedication and grand opening are scheduled for Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 3pm. The playground will need finishing work until then, so it will not be open for play until the grand opening on that day. Scrappy. Self-reliant. Big-hearted. Skilled. Giving. Creative. How many words can you think of to describe this awesome community? I can think of quite a few, but I’m the most proud of this one: Together. When we asked you to help rebuild the Dream Playground in 2021, even though you were a little skeptical and had lost some faith in the location, you were there. Then the historic heat wave kept us from finishing everything. So two weeks later, you were there again. And again. And again. Fast forward to December 20, 2023, when we all woke up to something that at first sounded like a terrible joke. The playground so important in our kids’ lives had been consumed by fire in the blink of an eye. I don’t think most of us, including the Dream Playground Foundation, realized just how important it had become to our families, our caregivers, and our visitors. And when it was lost, you were there with support almost instantly, without even being asked.
Now, in just five days, hundreds of you have once again built it together, with the help of dozens of generous people who donated huge amounts of time and equipment laying the groundwork, like 2 Grade Construction, RJ Services, Clark Land Office, Bruch and Bruch Construction, Hartnagel Building Supply, the Port Angeles Parks Department, and dozens of small businesses and caring individuals. And, of course, the amazing board and volunteers of the Dream Playground Foundation.
Wow. Just Wow. Port Angeles keeps on giving, even when we’re frustrated or furious, and it’s what makes our community great. I don’t remember a single person over the last 5 months talking about how divided we are. On the contrary, this project has proven that our shared priorities are still very much alive and well. Nice work, P.A. -Steve  We are so grateful to Nancy King and the other wonderful folks at the Olympic Peninsula YMCA for making Play Care available for free at the Port Angeles Y on a limited basis for shift volunteers during the Community Build! The Y’s Play Care center is nurturing and welcoming to every child.
The child/ren's guardian must:
Contact the YMCAThe Port Angeles YMCA is located at 302 S. Francis Street and can be reached at 360-452-9244. Please keep your child home if they are sick.   Big progress! Today, the intrepid crew from RJ Services started final demolition at the Dream Playground site. They are removing all of the play surface and underlying play mat, and will be helping to get the site back to bare earth. We want to remove all traces of debris and fire contamination and start with a fresh layer of base gravel and all new surface materials. It’s a lot (a whole lot!) of work and material, and we are so incredibly grateful to the RJ crew for the donation of time and equipment. There would be no possibility of a May rebuild without all the amazing contractors and community partners who are stepping up to the hard physical work that will make the dream a reality again in just seven short weeks! Extra Special ThanksRJ Services for the painstaking and accurate demolition while working around and saving a number of undamaged components.
  Are You Skilled?The Dream Playground community rebuild needs Skilled Workers to make this dream a reality once again! For our purposes, "skilled workers" are those having experience with woodworking power tools such as: hand routers; compound Miter, table, jig, sawzall / reciprocating, and circular saws. Skills in framing / building and finish carpentry are extremely helpful. Must be at least 18 years of age.
Please sign up for shifts at tinyurl.com/dreamplayground or by clicking the button below:  No one can build a playground on an empty stomach, and that's why we're so grateful to the meal sponsors for our community build and to our incredible Meals Crew Lead, Linda DeBord! Free lunch and dinner will be provided to volunteers between shifts, and meal sponsors allow us to reserve funds for playground materials and elements. We hope you will join us in thanking these local businesses and organizations for helping to make the Dream Playground a reality once again: Join the Build!Sign up for shifts to the Dream Playground community build - we will feed you!
Since we received the news about insurance coverage, the Dream Playground Foundation has stopped soliciting funds for the 2024 rebuilding effort; we have turned our attention to recruiting volunteers for the week of the build. However, we are dedicated to honoring and recognizing the many businesses and organizations that donated after the fire on December 20, 2023.  We were honored to be Jim's Pharmacy's Jim's Cares Charity of the Month for February 2024! Last month, all donations to the charity along with sales from Jim's donated books went to the Dream Playground Foundation. Customers were also invited to make additional donations through the Playground's website. The funds raised, thanks to Jim's Pharmacy, will help build back the Dream Playground even better than it was before. In the 2021 build, the extreme heat and increase in material costs meant that not all the elements from the original design were built. This time, we are able to go back to the original plan and incorporate additional elements that will bring us even closer to the original Dream. About Jim's PharmacyWe encourage you to support the businesses that support our community - like Jim's! "Since its establishment in 1983, Jim’s Pharmacy has grown with the community it serves. The skilled, professional staff are your friends and neighbors, committed to the customers they’ve worked with every day for over 30 years." "Jim's emphasizes a more personal approach to pharmacy. At Jim's, small equals more: more responsive, more attentive, and more customer-focused." - jimsrx.com Not only does Jim's offer prescriptions, compounding, and consultations, they're also your destination for home health care products, thoughtfully selected gifts and cards, and specialty foods. What will YOU find at Jim's?
Since we received the news about insurance coverage, the Dream Playground Foundation has stopped soliciting funds for the 2024 rebuilding effort; we have turned our attention to recruiting volunteers for the week of the build. However, we are dedicated to honoring and recognizing the many businesses and organizations that donated after the fire on December 20, 2023.
The wonderful Port Angeles Senior Center held a matching donation drive during the month of February, 2024, that raised $2,000 for the Dream Playground! Like so many of the fundraisers that occurred after the devastating fire on December 20, 2023, the Senior Center initiated this fundraiser completely on their own, showing us once again that when someone in our community needs help, we help - without being asked. The Port Angeles Senior Center is a wonderful resource for our community, and not just seniors. The Senior Center offers art, music and dance; classes and discussion groups; cards and other games; health and fitness programs; sports; support groups; and more! Learn more at their website: https://portangelesseniorcenter.com/ Thank you Port Angeles Senior Center!Since we received the news about insurance coverage, the Dream Playground Foundation has stopped soliciting funds for the 2024 rebuilding effort; we have turned our attention to recruiting volunteers for the week of the build. However, we are dedicated to honoring and recognizing the many businesses and organizations that donated after the fire on December 20, 2023.  We are so grateful to the lovely folks at Salon 501 for raising $540 for the Dream Playground during their anniversary celebration!!! These funds will go toward rebuilding the Dream Playground even better than it was before! Community members may not know this, but several elements from the original design were not installed during the 2021 build because so many of the materials increased in price; and the incredible heat wave left us with fewer volunteers than required to complete the project as designed. The donations we received after the December 2023 fire will help us rebuild the Dream even better than originally imagined!
We hope you will support the wonderful local businesses, like Salon 501, that support the Port Angeles Dream Playground! Thank you, Salon 501!!!  Calling all handy-people: The Dream Playground needs tools for the community build in May! Requested items range from orbital jigsaws and routers, to hammers, rakes, and pop-up tents. We have a complete list, including desired quantities, at SignUp Genius: tinyurl.com/dreamplaygroundtools Even if you physically help with the build, lending tools to the effort will make a HUGE difference in our ability to complete all the tasks on our list, and rebuild the Dream in time for the end of the 2023-2024 school year! How to Lend Tools1. Click the Sign Up button. 2. Select all the tools that you are able to lend to the rebuilding effort. 3. a. Drop your tools off at Angeles Rentals store at 520 S. Lincoln St., Port Angeles on the following days and times:
3. b. OR email our Tool Crew Lead Steve Hargis at [email protected] or call/text 360-808-3896 to make other arrangements. FAQWe understand that no one lends their tools out to just anybody. Rest assured, we have systems in place to make sure they are safe and well cared for.
Q: How do I ensure I get my tools back? A: Your name, contact information, and date of drop off will be assigned to a unique number and recorded along with a description and photo of each tool loaned. Your number will be printed on your tool with a permanent marker. Tools will be ready for return the week after the build (May 20 - 26) at the Dream Playground. You will be notified when your tools are ready for pick up. Example:(Joe Smith #12 ~ e-mail ~ phone number ~ DeWalt battery-powered drill, 2 batteries, & charger). However you support the Dream Playground - THANK YOU!
Since we received the news about insurance coverage, the Dream Playground Foundation has stopped soliciting funds for the 2024 rebuilding effort; we have turned our attention to recruiting volunteers for the week of the build. However, we are dedicated to honoring and recognizing the many businesses and organizations that donated after the fire on December 20, 2023.  We are beyond grateful to the team at The Cedars at Dungeness for hosting a golf tournament fundraiser benefiting the Dream Playground. A majority of our board members attended and not only did everyone have a fantastic time, but the tournament raised $14,794 for the Dream Playground!!! This incredible event is one of the reasons that the Foundation will be able to rebuild the playground before the end of the 2023 - 2024 school year. We want to thank the event sponsors individually:
 A big congratulations to the tournament winners!
|
