BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Many hands started joining together Wednesday to build a 12,000-square-foot playground in Mount Washington.
They came from around the region, men, women, children, from as far as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois, working in two shifts of 100 people each.
Some took vacation to be a part of the project.
Ken Peck, president of the Mount Washington Civic Association, the group that pulled the 1,000 Hands Project together, said about 2,000 people have signed up.
Among the buzzing crowd of 100 working the 8:30 a.m. to noon shift were Kelly Holliday of Sharonville and Hannah Rhoades of Fairview, who were carrying lumber.
Mr. Peck was moving a utility pole as other volunteers drilled holes in lumber and dug holes in the ground. He said a second shift of volunteers would work from 12:30 to 5 p.m.
"I intend to have children someday, and I hope people will come together to build a playground wherever we are," Ms. Rhoades said. Ms. Holliday said she took two days off to work on the project. "I saw signs about the project on a billboard and decided to volunteer," she said.
Michael Thomas, construction supervisor for Leathers & Associates, the Ithaca, N.Y., a consulting firm hired to oversee the project, said Wednesday's turnout was good. "There is a lot of enthusiasm here, and this is what we look for," he said.
The Mount Washington playground is the latest in the Tristate to be constructed with volunteer labor. Last summer, a similar play area, Megaland, was built in Colerain Township. Another is planned in Green Township.
Mr. Thomas said he has been involved in building 100 such playgrounds around the country.
Mr. Peck, president of the civic association, said the playground will be finished Sunday.
"We plan to open it with the mayor cutting the ribbon," Mr. Peck said. "This is the result of regional thinking and people working together. We are really doing what President Clinton talks about, empowering communities."
Don Turner, vice president of volunteer resources for United Way & Community Chest, said the project is one of the most aggressive events the agency has been involved with.
"We took a partnership position with other agencies and corporations," Mr. Turner said. "This is a great example of how we can go beyond neighborhood boundaries and come together as a region."
The playground is on a vacant lot behind Mount Washington Elementary School and will be available for public use. The land is owned by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission. "This is a great example of how we can go beyond neighborhood boundaries and come together as a region.' -- Don Turner, United Way & Community Chest
