Everett’s multicultural playground

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, September 1, 2001

By Kate Reardon

Herald Writer

EVERETT — Children in northeast Everett soon will get to swing and slide on new playground equipment with an international flavor at Wiggums Park.

Volunteers from the community and local businesses will help install the new playground equipment at the 10-acre park at 2808 10th St. Friday through Sunday. The play equipment should be ready in December.

The new playground is part of a project by the Everett Parks Foundation and Parks and Recreation Department to rebuild the park. Donations will pay for much of the project, which includes stewardship programs.

The playground also will have a multicultural theme, with rooflines from other parts of the world and a sign pointing to various countries with the number of miles from Everett to reflect the diversity of the neighborhood.

More than a third of the students at nearby Hawthorne Elementary are taking English as a second language, and 13 languages are spoken there.

The $1.2 million park renewal also includes walking paths, picnic areas, a play field, a community garden and an outdoor plaza. A skate park, which would require additional funding, is planned as another phase.

People who use wheelchairs will be able to access the playground, which will include slides, swings, a climbing rock and other features, said Karri Matau, project manager with the parks foundation.

The two-year project began with a neighborhood survey. Translators were used to help communicate with those who speak languages other than English.

Corporate and community teams that have signed up to help include Cascade Coffee, Costco, Denney Youth Center, Everett Port Gardner Rotary Club, Everett Public Schools, EverTrust Bank, Fluke, Hawthorne Elementary School, Nord Door, Wells Fargo, Naval Station Everett and Verizon.

You can call Herald Writer Kate Reardon at 425-339-3455

or send e-mail to reardon@heraldnet.com.