Project Spotlights

Sacramento, CA

The original Fort Natomas community-built playground was built in November 1991. Arsonists set fire to the playground on June 26, 2006. "The sadness and sense of loss was evident on the faces of those who witnessed the fire reduce Fort Natomas to piles of ash," said Dodie Newman, who was the general coordinator in 1991. "The children, especially teens who have grown up playing at the playground, were the most upset and vocal about their loss of Fort Natomas."

A few days after the devastating fire destroyed the playground, members of the original steering committee and city council members set a grueling 4-month schedule to rebuild on the 15th anniversary of the original playground build. Dodie Newman again served as the general coordinator, and all of the members of the original steering committee again volunteered to help organize the playground rebuild. "Fifteen years ago, I was one of several hundred volunteers who worked alongside Dodie Newman for several days to construct Fort Natomas," said council member Ray Tretheway. "Dodie and I know that our community will rally again and replace the playground that a generation of children have enjoyed." The city of Sacramento Parks and Rec Department employees as well as Councilmember Tretheway's assistant Randi Kay Stephens also played a big part in making the playground a reality. Leathers' consultant Dave Iannello was the project manager and lead consultant on both the 1991 and 2006 builds.

One of the most personal losses to children, parents, and neighbors was the destruction of irreplaceable tiles. A new tile wall is an integral part of the rebuilt playground. Salvageable tiles from the original playground were pieced together to make up one row of tiles, and a second row made by the current generation of children was added. The playground also includes misters, balance beams, a rubber bridge, a suspension bridge, a sandbox with a mosaic wall, a rock climbing wall, a chain bridge, a ring bridge, a firepole, four towers, including a giant tower, four slides, façade cubbies in the tot lot, a pirate ship, a giant Soduko puzzle and, of course, swings. The playground was constructed of structural plastic and Trex composite decking.

Design Day was held on July 22, 2006, and build dates were set for November 7 through 12. The organization and preparation took place in 4 months as compared with an 18-month period in 1991. It was raining on Saturday morning, November 11th, and committee members were worried that volunteers wouldn't show up. But 7th-grader Brandon Kado wasn't concerned. He was confident they'd show up and stay the whole day, "and we'll still get it done-even in the rain." And in fact, nearly 400 volunteers showed up on Saturday morning. The playground was completed in time for a grand-opening ceremony on Sunday evening.

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