What makes PlayTown Suwanee so special? The 10,000 square foot playground was built solely by residents of Suwanee. They volunteered their time and money to create a one-of-a-kind playground for the children of the community.
The playground at 425 Main Street was designed and orchestrated by construction managers Bill Hugill, Dave Lannello, and Justin Fowler. The project drew an estimated 75-100 volunteers for each of the three daily shifts on each of the five days the project was under construction.
Moms, dads, grandparents, churches, businesses, and community organizations worked together for over 10,000 cumulative hours from June 9 to 13, 2004, to complete the playground.
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So what else besides 1,200 eager Suwanee volunteers ready to work does it take to turn an empty piece of land with a huge pile of dirt on it into a spectacular playground in a very short time?
The answer is 1,950 pieces of lumber, 881 trex pieces, 14 tons of sand, 94 gallons of sealer, 642 pounds of nails, 56,788 screws, 55 drills, and 11 saws. Also due credit are Northside Hospital, RIDGID tools, Home Depot, and several other restaurants, businesses, and organizations for the generous donations and support they provided.
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Here are a few comments from dedicated volunteers about this accomplishment:
-- “Every community should have a chance at something like this,” said Angie O’Farrell, Volunteer Committee Chair.
-- According to former council member Jeannine Rispin, “PlayTown Suwanee gives us another reason to be proud of our city.”
-- The Demaris family of Suwanee spent time helping all five days. They said, “We can see our mark on something in the community and are glad we chose to get involved.”
Even former Mayor Nick Masino dedicated his time to the event. Masino shared his thoughts and feelings by saying, “The five days I have spent working on the PlayTown Suwanee project have been among the most satisfying. I was frankly overwhelmed by how our community came together and all that we were able to accomplished. I have never been more proud to be the Mayor of Suwanee.”
The land the playground now sits on was purchased by the city of Suwanee as part of its award-winning open-space initiative. The city has acquired more than 300 acres of open space through the program since its start in 2001 to be used to better the community as well as preserve natural areas for future generations to enjoy.
Programs like the open-space initiative not only preserve nature’s wonders but make communities stronger by providing opportunities for all residents to get together and make a difference.
The park opened on June 13, 2004, and is located near the library in Old Town Suwanee. Children and parents will enjoy the facility for many years to come.
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