Spring Day of Caring for Playground at Warriors’ Path State Park April 26
Darrell’s Dream Boundless Playground at Warriors’ Path State Park will be closed Saturday, April 26 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. for the 18th annual Day of Caring/Day of Service volunteer cleanup at the park.
The event is organized by the Friends of Warriors’ Path State Park in partnership with Tennessee State Parks and several community groups. The park will remain open to visitors on April 26, but access to the playground will be restricted during the cleanup. In case of rain, the cleanup will be rescheduled for Saturday, May 3.
“This has become a community event with many partners working together,” Park Manager Chris Cole said. “The playground is a special place, and events like this show the commitment to supporting the park. We are grateful to everyone involved for volunteering.”
With the collaboration of local businesses and community groups, the day has been designated for several maintenance projects, including replenishing the rubber mulch in play areas, pressure washing the playground equipment, weeding the playground and rain gardens, restocking the sand island, and cleaning out the creek.
Organizers expressed a special thanks to the Kingsport Lions Club and the Kiwanis Club of Kingsport for their continued support. Without their financial help, replacing interactive wardrobes and audio improvements on the Braille Trail at the playground would not be possible.
Sponsors donating goods and/or services include Food City, Hardee’s (Capstone Restaurants), Mycroft Signs, McDonald’s (Faris Properties), and Walmart Super Centers of Kingsport.
Groups that help to organize the event include: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Celebration Church; Grace Fellowship Church; Celebration Church; the City of Kingsport; Northeast Tennessee Master Gardeners; Dobyns-Bennett and West Ridge High School Key Clubs; ROTC’s from Dobyns-Bennett, Volunteer, Daniel Boone, and Cherokee high schools; Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Achieves students from across the region; students from Milligan College, East Tennessee State University; and Northeast State Community College. Many of these groups have participated for the last 17 years.
Neighbors, churches, and community groups are invited to volunteer. Organizers hope to have approximately 150 or more volunteers participating.
“Darrell’s Dream Boundless Playground remains in such good shape after 18 years because of our volunteers,” said Mary Steadman, board member of support group Friends of Warriors’ Path. “It takes a community. We are so thankful for the community support.”
Warriors’ Path was the first state park in the nation to provide a Boundless Playground. The complex includes an area for children ages 2-5, another for ages 5-12, a sand island and the a-“MAZE-ing” interactive area. It has an eight-station interactive Braille Trail, with the theme of C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” There is a fully accessible tree house where children can learn about the history of Warriors’ Path State Park and the native wildlife at the park. The playground draws over 165,000 visitors per year.
For more information about the project and to get involved contact Cole at (423) 239-8531 or Christopher.Cole@tn.gov or Steadman at (423) 956-4330 or mesteadman@aol.com.