The city of Hammond unified under the common purpose of building a playground and improving Zemurray Park. On Friday and Saturday several Southeastern and local organizations, businesses and individuals participated in constructing a playground in the city’s oldest and largest park.
“We really are proud of the unity that we have shown in the city,” said Mayson Foster, mayor of Hammond. “We’ve had people here from Southeastern, professors, students, firefighters, just about all walks of life who have come out here to help build this playground. I’d like to say a great big thank you to everyone who came out to help.”
A budget of $80,000 was raised to build the playground. However, the $20,000 Let’s Play grant donated by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and the national nonprofit KaBOOM! came with a condition requiring the community to build the playground.
“The thought behind the condition is that if the community comes together to build a playground, it’s an opportunity to work together, to invest together and to create something that will be there for many years to come,” said Lacy Landrum, city of Hammond grants manager. “The construction has been wonderful, and we have run ahead of schedule for most of the weekend.”
According to Treynor McAdams, supervisor of Planet Recess, the new playground features four slides, two rock climbing walls, monkey bars, a twister, a bouncer, a tic-tac-toe board, a drum panel, swimming “lily pads,” four regular swings and two toddler swings.
“I’m here because the city of Hammond hired us to come and build their fourth playground in Zemurray Park and to lead the volunteers,” said McAdams. “An estimated 100 volunteers were able to finish a $82,000 park in eight hours from start to finish. Play and recreation as a whole is very important to the well-being of children and adults alike.”
The atmosphere emanated teamwork and fun for all ages. Food and beverages were provided throughout the event.
“I volunteered to make the playground because my Key Club was helping. We moved 60 yards of mulch from a giant pile to underneath the swings, and it was fun,” said Emma Griffith, freshman at Hammond High School. “I think it is important because it gives people a place to play. It’s a place for people in the community to come and hang out.”
Students from Gamma Beta Phi, Multicultural and International Student Affairs, Sigma Alpha Pi National Society for Leadership and Success and the biology department took part in the community build.
“Students have been very instrumental in community events,” said Cooper Ricks, chairman of Hammond week and seed committee. “The university has been very good to us. Any kind of help we need, they’re always there.”
Starting Monday, a work crew began pouring rubberized surfacing over the concrete to create a safe, spongy pad. The playground is now officially open for children and their families to use.
“I just wanted to be a part of serving in the community and giving back,” said Joe Kovacs, Southeastern graduate. “You’ve got people from all over the place, fire department, city officials, student groups and people who heard about it and wanted to come help out. It’s a beautiful day, and the project went great. It’s going to be fun for a lot of kids for a long time.”