Monday, February 21, 2000
Volunteers needed to help playland blossom
BY ANNA GUIDO
Enquirer Contributor
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP — With help from the community, the new Fort Liberty Playland could be blooming with growth this spring.
Friends of Liberty Parks and Recreation, the nonprofit group that organized the playland project last year, is looking for about 50 volunteers to help landscape the site.
Dave Kern, a township trustee and local nursery owner, is donating the trees, shrubs, ground cover and perennials.
“I was so impressed with and proud of the efforts put forth by the volunteers last fall when it was built, that I was glad to contribute as best I can,” Mr. Kern said.
He said the playland “needs to be softened and made more user-friendly with landscaping and shade.”
Landscape design services were donated by Union Township resident Jose Castrejon of McGill Smith Punshon Inc., Sharonville.
“Without these donations, this would have been out of our budget and would have taken us at least another year to get done,” said Chris Matacic, project coordinator.
Mr. Kern's and Mr. Castrejon's donations are valued at more than $3,000. Mrs. Matacic said she is still looking for donations of mulch.
The landscaping will be done either March 11 or 18, depending on weather.
Volunteer coordinator Linda Lowe said volunteers should bring garden shovels and rakes. Gardening expertise is not necessary. Work hours have been set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. but could go longer.
Volunteers should be prepared to dig, plant, lay mulch and water, she said. When the work is done, lunch will be served.
Fort Liberty playland is located in The Reserves Park on Van Gordon Road. It is one of several Tristate playgrounds built in recent years with donated materials and labor.
Hundreds of volunteers and more than 200 Cincinnati-area businesses and organizations gave their time, money and materials to build Fort Liberty last September.
The $200,000 project was completed on schedule after a week of night-and-day work.
For information about the landscape project or to volunteer, call Linda Lowe at 755-0899.
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