Step 3: Organization Phase

Shortly after Design Day, we’ll assign a project manager and send you a proposal for the remainder of our involvement.

Your project manager will be an important resource for you. He or she will be familiar with every aspect of your project and will be your primary contact in our office. Between Design Day and Organization Day (usually several months), you’ll concentrate on developing public relations, strengthening your committee, and networking within the community. At the same time, fundraising, recruiting volunteers, and locating tools and materials (and trying to get many items donated) will begin. You’ll also get a better picture of your final budget.

Our printed Playground Planning Guides give you instructions, timelines, and suggestions for how to proceed. You’ll also find it useful to speak frequently with your project manager. During this time, we’ll develop your final drawings and prepare your final materials list. Two to three months before you begin construction, we’ll visit your community again to map out a strategy for the final stages of your project. A representative from Leathers & Associates will review your progress and help you map out the last several weeks up to construction. Organization Day gives you an opportunity to make sure you understand what remains to be done. We’ll review the site and lay out a site plan with your site captain, confer with committee coordinators individually and as a group, discuss the final design, and go over all schedules, plans, responsibilities, and construction details.

After Organization Day, your coordinators will find themselves working with checklists and guidelines to make sure everyone is on track, the site is properly prepared, tools and materials are collected and organized, and an adequate number of volunteers have signed up to build the playground.