Margaret Meade once said, "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that has."
Debra Evans and 5,000 volunteers, including many Hopkins students, have adopted this motto and committed themselves to constructing a new playground in Baltimore.
The playground, which is located on 900 East 33rd St., is replacing one acre of the land previously occupied by Memorial Stadium, a spot of land that is reserved only for public recreational purposes. When the idea to create a playground was established, a non-profit organization was created called Stadium Playground.
This Baltimore organization, composed almost entirely of volunteers with other full-time jobs, joined forces with Leather and Associates, a company that has helped build over 16,000 playgrounds worldwide.
Initially, volunteers presented this idea to the children of Waverly elementary schools, because it is the children who design the playground. At night, Stadium Playground asked all of the children's' parents to attend an informational meeting. Over 300 parents gathered at the first meeting.
Children from Waverly imagined what they would want included in their new playground -- swings, slides, a castle, a ship, a crab and a large sandbox. With the help of Leather and Associates and the local YMCA, those visions are becoming a reality.
The best feature of this project is its inclusive nature. The Stadium Playground project chose Leather and Associates because they allow the neighborhood children to design the playground. The volunteers in the Stadium Project are of all ages, from toddlers to grandparents. Debra Evans, the head director of the project, calls it an "intergenerational playground."
"It's a place kids can play and seniors can sit and overhear the laughter of the children," she said.
Unlike other playground constructions, Leather and Associates does not use pre-cut pieces. Once the children finalize their ideas, the pieces of the playground are created on-site. There, skilled volunteers at the building site help others arrange and cut pieces made from structural plastic and plastic composite lumber.
In order for the project to run smoothly, volunteers are separated into two categories: skilled workers and unskilled workers. During four hour shifts, a volunteer can find him or herself doing anything from construction to food preparation.
Many volunteers bring their kids to the site, where daycare is provided. Children aged 10 to 13 are permitted on the site if they are accompanied by an adult, and younger children often help out in other ways, such as making cookies for the volunteers.
The diverse group of volunteers has created a wonderful array of food choices for the hard-working volunteers, including several chili dishes.
Many volunteers have been so pleased by the upbeat environment of the project--many volunteers who showed up to work the morning shift decided to stay during the afternoon shift. Those who spent the morning doing construction often moved to less strenuous jobs such as cooking in the food tent or assisting those at the sign-up table.
Several Hopkins students extolled the strong community feeling that the playground construction generated.
"I enjoyed being part of a truly amazing effort made by such a diverse group of community members," said Ricardo Ramirez, a sophomore volunteer.
Similarly, Alex Obe, a sophomore who volunteered at the playground with her fellow Phi Mu sisters Rose Zulliger and Kyle Menze, both also sophomores enjoyed the positive atmosphere.
"This reminds you that Baltimore isn't just about crime and the murder rate," said Obe. "It's good to see people working together to create this playground."
It's clear that the Stadium Playground project has infused Baltimore with a much-needed sense of community. On this topic, Debra Evans reiterated the importance of inclusion.
"A community has no boundaries," she said. "This isn't about Waverly or certain Baltimore neighborhoods. This playground is about creating a community without boundaries and providing kids in Baltimore with a safe place to play.
