Powder Creek Playground

Calling all artistic and creative people!  

We are hosting an informational meeting about the Art and Special Design features of our playground on Tuesday, Feb 4 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at the Creative Arts Center at 200 W. 5th in Bonham.  There are many elements of our playground that will need a special artist touch to make them attractive and unique.  For example, there will be totem poles, a teepee, train and other elements that will need some creative work to finish them off.  We also have a large climbing wall that will look so much better if covered with art!

Check out some of these photos of the playground in Gainesville which was also designed by Leathers & Associates and built by community volunteers.  Notice the artistic touches and special painting that was added by local folks that help make their playground one-of-a-kind.

Help us spread the word and join us to learn more about how you can get involved with building our playground!

Powder Creek Playground Build Week March 12-16

Community volunteers have been busy making plans for building a playground at Powder Creek Park March 12-16.  Volunteer registration is now open online at www.powdercreekplay.org.  In addition to skilled and unskilled labor, volunteers are needed to check-in workers, provide child care for kids 9 and under, prepare and serve food and drinks to the workers, and complete artistic projects too.  Organizers encourage everyone to sign up on-line so they can plan accordingly.  For example, the volunteers trying to plan how much food to make for lunch and dinner need an idea of how many workers will be there each day.

Several fundraising plans are underway.  The latest report is that a little more than $104,000 has already been raised, which means the volunteer group only needs a little more than $16,000 left to reach their goal.

Coins for Construction – several local schools and businesses are collecting coins for constructing the playground.  Fannin Bank, Finley Oates Elementary, Granny Lou’s Bed & Breakfast, IW Evans Intermediate, 3 Kwik Chek stores, Legend Bank and the Tax-Assessor Collector’s Office are collecting coins.  Other businesses or schools who wish to join this effort should email powdercreekplay@gmail.com.

Raffle tickets – three items are being raffled off: $100 VISA gift card, American Girl doll and remote control helicopter.  Tickets cost $1 each or 6 for $5.  Drawings will be during the opening celebration of the playground on Sunday, March 16 from 5-7 pm.  Tickets can be purchased from volunteers or at Fannin Bank, American Bank of Texas and the Tax-Assessor Collector’s Office.

Picket sales – a limited number of pickets are being sold to individuals for $30 each or to businesses for $50 each.  Each picket can be engraved with a name of your choice.  Picket order forms are available at www.powdercreekplay.org or at Fannin Bank, American Nabk of Texas and the Tax-Assessor Collector’s Office.

Bryan Frazier, owner of Frazier Carpet Cleaning, has announced a special offer to help the playground.  From now through February, they will donate $10 of each cleaning job to the playground.  To schedule a carpet cleaning, call 903-583-1602.

Donations of snacks and breakfast foods are needed during build week.  To donate, contact Sue Taylor at suetaylor453@yahoo.net or Megan Massey at md_massey@hotmail.com.  Also, volunteers are in search of tools and equipment to borrow for build week.  Go to www.powdercreekplay.org for a list of items needed.

Planning Meeting – The next planning meeting is set for January 29 at 5:30 pm at the Children’s Center at 112 W. 5^th in Bonham.  Anyone interested in helping or simply learning more about the playground plans are welcome to attend.

Donate now, via PayPal.

Several local businesses and schools have started collecting Coins for Construction!  Many thanks to the following organizations who are helping us raise funds and awareness for our playground:

• Fannin Bank
• Finley Oates Elementary School
• Granny Lou’s Bed & Breakfast
• IW Evans Intermediate School
• Kwik Chek on Highway 121
• Kwik Chek on North Center Street
• Kwik Chek at 9th & Center Street
• Legend Bank
• Tax Assessor Collector’s Office

If your business, school or other organization would like to join us in collecting Coins for Construction, contact us at powdercreekplay@gmail.com.

Volunteers are excited to report that they have passed the $100,000 milestone in fundraising to build a unique playground at Powder Creek Park in Bonham.  In the last four months, volunteers have raised a little more than $20,000 and need to raise another $20,000 to reach their goal of $121,000.

Build week has been set for March 12-16, which is during spring break.  Organizers are hopeful that families will plan any trips for the early part of the break and be back in time to help build the playground during the latter part of the week.  Lots of volunteers will be needed to build the playground in just five days.  Both skilled and unskilled labor will be needed, as well as volunteers to babysit children 9 and under, check-in volunteers and feed the volunteers.  Children ages 10-13 can help build, but must stay next to a responsible adult.  Youth ages 14-17 can help build too, but cannot use power tools.  Volunteers will soon be able to register to help on the group’s new website www.powdercreekplay.org.

Several fundraising efforts are being planned to raise the remaining funds needed.  Raffle tickets are being sold by volunteers to win a $100 VISA gift card, an American Doll or a remote control helicopter.  Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.  The drawings will be held on March 16 during the opening celebration for the playground.

Workers from the City of Bonham recently contributed three days of prep work at the playground.  This gift is valued at more than $1,000.  Youth with the Fannin-Grayson Peace Project sold pies before the holidays and raised $333 for the playground.  The Spanish National Honor Society from Bonham High School contributed $50 from their Macho Nacho fundraiser.  A group of friends organized a New Year’s Eve party with a purpose and raised $460 for the playground.

To make on-line donations via PayPal or get more information about the playground, go to www.powdercreekplay.org.