Home

Aided by nearly 50 volunteers, Lewis Cutter's goal of a better playground for west Steamboat came one step closer to reality Saturday.

After spending several months planning an ambitious playground expansion project for Christian Heritage School, Cutter and a crew of fellow Boy Scouts, along with students, teachers and nearby residents, slipped on work gloves and spent a sunny fall day hauling loads of pea gravel and wood mulch.

"It feels good knowing people are taking time out of their day to help me," said Cutter, a 15-year-old sophomore at Christian Heritage School.

The army of volunteers began work at 9 a.m. Saturday, charged with the unenviable task of removing all of the pea gravel that formed the playing surface of the existing playground.

"This pea gravel never ends," Cutter said early in the workday. "You can't ever stop digging."

With the pea gravel eventually removed, the work shifted to filling the area with 150 cubic yards of mulch.

Saturday's efforts were the first steps toward completing the initial phase of the playground renovation and expansion, which eventually will include a swing set, a large sandbox and a shade structure. Depending on funding, additional project phases planned by Cutter will be brought forward.

Cutter created the project to meet one of his final requirements for becoming an Eagle Scout. Months of planning and fund raising led to Saturday, when Cutter's vision for the fenced-in area began to take form.

He initiated the project after realizing that the existing playground structures didn't provide activities for older children. It wasn't long before Cutter was researching playground equipment, safety requirements and costs. After receiving the blessing of school boards and community leaders, a timetable for construction was put in place.

The first step -- Saturday's gravel removal and mulch spreading -- became a community event of sorts. The old and young came ready to work. The number of volunteers who gave their time to the project is somewhat a reflection of the scope of the endeavor.

The Christian Heritage School and Heritage Park Preschool playground is open to all Steamboat II and Heritage Park residents, as well as families using the soccer fields adjacent to the schools.

Creating a positive atmosphere for the west Steamboat area was a goal of Cutter's.

Cutter's mother, Mary Ann, said it was rewarding to see how many people volunteered their time.

"The reason we have so many people is that it connects to school, church and community," she said. "Lots of people will benefit."

The shade structure, sandbox and swings are scheduled to be installed professionally later this month.

-- To reach Brent Boyer call 871-4234

or e-mail bboyer@steamboatpilot.com