ARLINGTON Close to 30 volunteers, representing three community service groups, descended upon Jensen Park Aug. 11 to install playground equipment.
Mike Swanson, with R and R Construction, served as an on-site supervisor for the work and summarized its progress.
During the previous two weeks, R and R Construction had already poured concrete, dug several holes and set several posts for the swings, slides and climbing structures created by Northwest Playground Equipment, but volunteers from the Arlington Lions, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs dug several more holes and set several more posts, in addition to assembling the playground equipment.
Some people are better at more detail-oriented tasks, but most of the people here are open for anything, Swanson said. We have a whole bunch of go-getters and all of them are willing. This group has an above-average motivation.
As he dug holes and raked dirt, Rotarian John Meno singled out the children of the volunteers who attended for doing their part on trash cleanup.
Everybodys doing something different, but were all coming together for a common cause, Meno said.
Its not often we have an opportunity like this, for all three organizations to come together for the community, agreed fellow Rotarian Lynn Eerkes.
According to Jim Knight, vice president of the Arlington Lions Club, the last time the Lions, Kiwanis and Rotary worked jointly on the same project was landscaping the Cascade Valley Hospital grounds in the mid-1980s.
We all picked this project three months ago, Knight said. Its a significant credit to all three groups presidents.
Its a great project, said Herb Hower, standing in for fellow Lions Club member Warren Hopkins. Its great for the community, and its just an exciting time.
After holes were dug and posts set, platforms were placed in between posts, and equipment was attached from there. Several city officials were involved in assembling gear, including recreation coordinator Sarah Hegge and on-site construction manager Terry Marsh.
As he tightened nuts and bolts, City Council member Scott Solla complimented the days weather and the hard work of his fellow volunteers.
Im happy were making headway on this, Solla said. Everyone is getting along and having a great time. This is what its all about pitching in for kids and neighborhoods, and developing relationships and fellowship along the way.
Hegge expects that sidewalks for the playground will be installed within the next two weeks.