http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_8747625 

  

  

  

Hundreds help assemble Eureka playground

Despite strong winds and chilly temperatures, more than 450 volunteers assembled playground equipment, painted murals and built flowerbeds Saturday at one of Eureka’s oldest parks.

”I think it’s wonderful, especially because it’s done by non-governmental agencies,” said Roger Mackenzie, who lives nearby Hammond Park. “I think it will get a lot more use.”

A grant from California Volunteers and KaBOOM! was secured by the City of Eureka, with the help of Eureka City Schools, which wrote a letter of commitment, said Michelle Hutchins, project co-organizer and associate director of adult education with Eureka Adult Schools.

The city raised $10,000 in matching funds, but the total grant amount isn’t yet known, Hutchins said. Though KaBOOM! typically receives supplies from Home Depot, there isn’t one in the area, so equipment and supplies were provided by local businesses, she said.

The park, at 14th and E streets, is the oldest in the city and prior to Saturday, had the oldest play equipment, Hutchins said. With the new equipment, it will be the most expensive park in Humboldt County, she said.

One of the newest additions to the park is a 12 by 18 foot mural honoring Cesar Chavez, a civil rights activist and founder of the United Farm Workers.

Local artist Alejandro Escudero got an early start on the painting, and put the undercoat on Friday night after the rains died down, he said. He showed up at the park at 7 a.m. Saturday and had a team of about 10 who helped fill in the colors.

”Honestly, work is really slow, I had the time,” said Escudero, a building designer. Not only is the mural a tribute to Chavez, it’s also in memory of Escudero’s friend Jamie Binder who died last month from cancer. “Normally, I’m too busy, but work was slow and it’s for him.”

The idea of people organizing to rebuild a community park struck a chord with 55-year-old Camilo Olmos, who said he marched with Chavez in the ’70s as an activist.

”He was just a quiet, strong man and the people listened,” said Olmos, an AmeriCorp volunteer who moved from Sonoma County to Willow Creek in October. “This is a great honor to the man — all kinds of people of all ages came together for a community effort and to honor Cesar.”

        
Karen Wilkinson can be reached at 441-0514 or kwilkinson@times-standard.com