Extreme Makeover, Park Edition

With the economy as shaky as it seems to be nationally, it's really great to see so many people here open their wallets and give their time to help the Palestine Junior Service League purchase and install the new playground equipment at Reagan Park. Crews from the prisons did the pad work earlier in the week, volunteers dug holes and set equipment into position for assembly yesterday, and this morning a little army of blue-shirted volunteers has sprung into action to assemble everything and get it in its final position as the concrete cures. Junior Service League leaders estimated about 10:30 this morning that they'd had around 160 people working on the project, with more stopping by to drop off homemade cookies and treats, or to offer checks to buy pizza for those doing the work. They estimated between $225,000 and $250,000 has been raised for the project, and everything has been donations - money, time, materials, labor, etc. It's heartwarming to see a cross section of the community come out to do something that benefits all of the kids of the area. We have a story and photos in the Sunday paper and online, as well as a short video.