NEWS ORLEANS -- Hundreds of volunteers and Marines from across the country and within the community teamed up to build a new playground Nov. 26 at the Intercultural Charter School here.
The playground took the place of what used to be an empty field at the charter school.
Two months ago, the non-profit organization KABOOM! met with the school to begin planning the project. The school was responsible for providing 50 percent of the volunteers for the event, while the other volunteers consisted of volunteers representing the major sponsor of the annual Bayou Classic football game taking place the same weekend and Marines from Marine Forces Reserve headquarters and the Marine Corps Recruiting Command.
“It’s so cool to have this many people out here,” said Cassie Haslett, project manager for the playground build. “It’s the day after Thanksgiving and our volunteers could be doing so many other things, but they decided to show up here. Some of these people are helping people they don’t even know.”
The playground at this site was designed by students of the school, mentioned Haslett, who has been working for KABOOM! for two years.
The weather was cold and rainy, but not even the weather was enough to stop the hundreds of volunteers from building the new playground for The Intercultural Charter School in New Orleans East.
KABOOM! is a national non-profit organization, dedicated to saving play for America’s children. Their mission is to create great play spaces through the participation and leadership of communities. Ultimately, they envision a place to play within walking distance of every child in America, according to the kaboom.org website.
In October 2008, The Intercultural Charter School in New Orleans East opened its doors to children in grades kindergarten through fifth following the natural disaster, Hurricane Katrina, which had devastated the city three years prior. New Orleans East was one of the most heavily devastated areas in the city.
“This is one of the newer charter schools in New Orleans,” said Peta LeBlanc, principal of the Intercultural Charter School.
“Initially, the school was only K-5. We plan on continuing to build and by 2012 we will teach grades K-8.”
The Bayou Classic is an annual college football game held at the New Orleans Superdome, between Grambling State University and Southern University – both historically black colleges.
Year round, KABOOM! builds hundreds of new playgrounds across the nation.
Seventy-two hours after the playground was completed that afternoon, it was open for children to explore. Just in time for the students returning from their Fall Break.