little hearts big smiles

nate   about 12 hours later

That partially depends on what you consider a larger project and the number of volunteers you can muster up. To give you an idea of what's possible, KaBOOM! has built huge playgrounds with over 700 volunteers in one day. As the size, scope, and complexity of a project increases, so must the number of volunteers, project leaders, and installers.

littleheartsbigsmiles   6 days later

our project is about a 450,000 dollar project. I read in the training that one day builds are best, but i am wondering for big projects with wheelchair ramping, how feasable is it and how do you determine how many volunteers we will need for the build. We are reevaluating our budget and i wasnt sure i was being realistic.

katie_n_cali   6 days later

That is a large budget :) Does that budget include surfacing (mulch or rubber)? Are you planning on adding anything more to the playground area like benches, tables or plants? With the one day build model we also have a few days of lots of prep work (digging the playground holes, cutting any wood for benches etc.) and all that work is done with volunteers. A few of the most important things are to be super super organized and have the right tools and people for each job. There are great documents and guidelines on this site. I also have a lot of resources and expierence and would love to help in any way I can. Good luck!

jdemelo   6 days later

My gut instinct says that anything is possible and this too can be possible. I would be interested in seeing the playground design. Is this budget inclusive of site preparation costs, or is just for the actual playground pieces? Also, I am curious to know what kind of playground footers you will be using. There are generally two types, direct bury, where the posts are placed in large holes and then concreted, or surface mount, where the playground posts are bolted on to a large concrete pad. This would definitely affect the number of volunteers needed, because if it were direct bury(where concrete is needed), it would require more volunteers. I have completed Builds where we completed playgrounds with multiple wheelchair ramps and even some pretty large structures. There is definitely a little more planning and prep work that goes into ensuring the Build Day goes smooth, but is definitely achievable. I would love to help answer any questions and help you out as you go through this process. Please feel free to reach out to me and good luck!

littleheartsbigsmiles   20 days later

Thanks for the insight...yes it includes terra soft pour in place material. I have been trying to access the documents on the site about site plan and how to find documents to make sure our budget is feasible. I cant seem to find where they are. I went in the tool kit. is that right? and then i couldnt find information except general information on the topic...can you help PLEASE! About the footers..not sure about that one. I would say it was direct bury. because it will be placed before the terrasoft material. Have you heard major benefits over the smooth surface of the pour in place material vs. the rubber square flooring? thanks! Y0u help is priceless!

littleheartsbigsmiles   20 days later

also, the price is high because the entire park is ramped..kids can have access to ALL equipment! A unique concept as most think a wheelchair swing = accessiblity! Simply not true:(

nate   20 days later

In the accessibility section of our toolkit there is a link to Universal Design which talks about the 7 principals of Universal Design. I think this would help as you plan your site. Like Jen said, direct bury refers to when you'll actually be digging holes that the posts go into. A lot of times when you have rubber surfacing you'll want to start with a concrete pad and then bolt the posts directly to that concrete pad, but that will depend on your budget, preference, and your manufacturer's advice to a certain extent. The reason that we don't have specific budget outlines is that each projects' budget is so different from the next, and what will work for one project wouldn't necessarily work for another. If you post your ideas for what your budget should look like in the "Files" section, we can all take a look and offer advice. Let us know how we can help!

jdemelo   22 days later

Additionally, pour in place is a very nice type of surfacing, as are the rubber tiles. I love the designs that can be incorporated into the pour and place surfacing, but it can sometimes be tricky when it comes to maintenance. The tiles can be easier to replace if there is an area of high traffic. For a project of this magnitude, I would definitely recommend doing a surface mount project if getting a lot of volunteers is going to be a challenge. It would save on mixing a lot of concrete on Build Day. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I am happy to help!

littleheartsbigsmiles   about 19 hours later

We have been working with Landscape Structures in playground design and have worked to finalize a playground that is safe, fully accessible, and provides a place for families to have fun. We have consulted other playgrounds with similar concepts and utilized what they have learned to help plan our playground. We have a board of directors that meets monthly. Each Board member chairs a different area (fundraising, grants, treasurer, secretary, vice- president, and president). We meet monthly for board meetings and as needed for committees. We are in the process of seeking corporate donations and applying for grants.

littleheartsbigsmiles   about 19 hours later

We are currently working on a full site plan including fully accessible bathroom faciliites, We are learning how to utilize the beauty of the land around the park. We have gained a large amount of support in the community and are working at state wide support. We have researched ground surfacing and feel the best option is terra soft pour in place material for smooth ground surfacing. We have researched the needs of the special needs population and have designed a playground that provides accessiblity and education for all.

deestees24   12 days later

We are currently planning for our May 1 Quarter Auction to raise money for the playground. It will be located in Wilmington, Ohio at the Clinton County Expo Center. We will have a raffle drawing for $1,000 or $750 or $250. Please see a member to buy raffle tickets or donate a basket for the auction.

littleheartsbigsmiles   20 days later

Dont forget Board metting this Thursday at 7pm at the Nazarene Church. ALso did you see the sign on our land! yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nate   20 days later

I'd love to see a picture of your sign! If you can, upload one to your photo tab.