Volunteers build family park in Kent in hours

KENT — A volunteer corps of more than 250 children, teenagers and adults have built a whole new park in less than eight hours.

The neighborhood park of Tudor Square in Kent is the first of eight parks across the nation that will be built or refurbished — each taking one day to do so — over two months as part of a project being spearheaded by a national non-profit organization for playgrounds and a health insurance company, along with local municipalities.

Volunteers arrived early Wednesday to assemble slides, swings, climbing walls and benches. The park also features walking paths and stretching stations for adults.

Victoria Andrews of Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services says these public-private partnerships are welcomed because the city’s budget has taken a hit in the down economy.