Huge Project Starting Soon at Rec Park

OurSpace at Rec Park is one exciting project that will benefit so many families in the Binghamton area.  With the help of volunteers, the goal is to revitalize a 4 acre parcel of the City of Binghamton’s Recreation Park with a design that is fully adaptive and inviting. OurSpace’s unique design includes a new Adaptive Playground with Sound Garden, a Tree Deck, Raised Garden Beds, Game Tables and Natural Play Areas.

Over $700,000 has been raised to build this amazing playground for special needs individuals of all ages and abilities. Organizer’s are hoping to raise an additional $40,000 to purchase a wheel chair accessible Swing (Liberty Swing) and Accessible Merry Go Round (to look like a carousel).

One day I ran in to my friend Jen O'Brien who heads this great community project and she couldn't wait to share the early designs with me.  Magnificent!  As Jen says the goal is to design "a safe space to play for all members of our community."

But they can't make it happen alone.  It will take hundreds of volunteers to build Our Space at Recreation Park.  Here's the scoop on the first couple of phases starting this spring:

Phase One-  Construction Build Dates: April 10th - April 20th (subject to change) Our Space needs 30-40 volunteers per shift, mainly skilled workers & tradesmen. Phase One will be more labor intensive than Phase Two.

Phase Two - Community Build Dates: April 20th - May 8th Build Days Tree Deck April 20 - 24th & Play spaces May 2 - May 8th.  Our Space needs 40-80 volunteers per shift. There will be two (4 hours) shifts per build day. Signing up now will help Our Space in our planning.

Volunteer Roles

Volunteer Builders:

1)  Our Space will need 30-40 Volunteer Builders per shift. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age and any skill level are welcome. Shift times vary in order to accommodate the finalized build schedule.

2)  "Skilled” Volunteers: Our Space will need 20-30 Skilled Volunteers per shift. Volunteers at least 16 years of age with a basic skill level with tools. Shift times vary in order to accommodate the finalized build schedule.

3)  Team Build Captains: If you would like to “Captain” a team of friends or co-workers, you’ve come to the right place.  Each “Build Team” will include 4-50 co-workers/friends volunteering together to help build the Spaces.

Additional volunteers will be appreciated  in the following areas: food tents, childcare, volunteer check ins.

To sign up to help with any of these areas, please click HERE.

Questions regarding volunteering should be directed to Jen O'Brien at ourspacepark@gmail.com.  Additional information about the build can be found at: ourspacepark.org.