Over the past decade, about half a million kids have enjoyed playing in Timber Town – the 12,000-square-foot wooden play structure of swings, towers, slides, sandboxes and rope ladders located at Sibley Road and M-52, at the north end of Chelsea.
And not surprisingly, the years have taken their toll on the playground.
After playing with her grandkids a year ago at Timber Town, and seeing that the structure was in need of repair, Chelsea resident Gloria Mitchell– who teamed with Julie Rutherford in 1996 to get the Timber Town project under way – teamed with other local residents Amy Mitchell, Tracie Faupel, Jeff Dehring, Dennis Crawley, and Chelsea Recreation Council Director Michelle Mitchell.
The group, known as the Friends of Timber Town, (FTT) submitted a large grant request to the Chelsea Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan that has received approval, Amy Mitchell said Monday.
"The grant approval from the Chelsea Community Foundation was pending a resolution from City Council. The resolution would essentially make FTT a more formal organization within the City of Chelsea and make the grant funds available for use only on Timber Town," she said."
Timber Town – in 1996 one of the largest play structures of its kind in the state – was created with the help of more than 2,500 volunteers and hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial support and community-wide donations. When the structure was complete Leather's and Associates, the original architects, estimated the play structure was worth between $325,000 and $500,000 10 years ago, Mitchell said.
It was a huge effort that brought the community together, like no other project that Chelsea has ever seen – and a similar effort is needed to restore it. The structure is owned and maintained by the City of Chelsea; the Chelsea Rotary Club has carried out mulch refurbishment and stain treatment several times over the years, and the Chelsea Lions Club has worked on the pavilion structure and picnic tables.
Now Friends of Timber Town are on a roll to raise funds and enlist volunteers to refurbish the play structure. "We're fired up to get the community back involved in Timber Town," Mitchell said. "It was a mammoth community undertaking 10 years ago, we are excited to keep the structure going, and maintain it's powerful image of what Chelsea is really about.
"Many communities in Michigan have actually torn down their structures due to maintenance issues. Chelsea is better than that — we're going to fix it up and hopefully make it even better."
The group originally hoped to lead volunteers in a restoration last September but were stymied by low funds.
Fund-raising has already kicked off, with T-shirts and tote bags on sale, featuring the Timber Town image painted by Amy Mitchell's father John W. Mitchell Sr.
They are on sale at Mission Marketplace, The Chelsea TreeHouse, GiGi's Flowers, Cranesbill Books, and Chelsea Recreation Offices at the Washington Street Education Center.
The group has also received contributions from Moore Pediatrics & Associates, the Doan Family Foundation, Chelsea Kiwanis Club and Chelsea Milling Co.
Mitchell said the restoration is a two-pronged event, with the first event set for May 26, with a rain date of May 27.
"We're calling all skilled laborers and persons with any novice construction experience, such as a father who has done work in his own home, or assembled a backyard play structure," she said.
"These volunteers will be responsible for replacing all hardware play features on the structure. This will include addressing outdated safety issues on the structure, updating play features with more modern and safer equipment."
The crew also will replace chains, bolts, connectors, chimes, tires, monkey rings, suspension bridge, balance beam, bumper pads, and build a new rock wall.
The group hopes for about 75 to 100 volunteers on May 26, and also needs project managers to help coordinate the event.
Donations of tools are needed and include: chain or bolt cutters, socket wrenches, Phillips screwdrivers, multi-tab extension cords, ladders of all heights, garden rakes, generators with 120 or 220 amp service, pitch-forks, wheelbarrows, scoop shovels, shovels, pneumatic impact wrenches, brooms, compressors, Sawzall, Muck Trucks, drills or spade bits, circular saws, cordless drill bit extensions, router with ?-inch round bit, bolt cutters, cordless drill drivers with Phillips tips, chargers and extra batteries, vice grips, and pliers.
After the outdated and worn play equipment has been replaced May 26 it will be much easier for a large work group to access the structure to refurbish the mulch, sand and re-seal the entire structure at the second event, June 9 and 10, kicking off at 9 a.m.
"We are calling for many volunteers, as many as 200, to help out each day with that second restoration event," Mitchell said.
"We would also encourage children ages 12 and up to come and help, Mitchell said. "Part of the Friends of Timber Town mission is to provide a teachable image of community involvement to the children of Chelsea."
Mitchell said she would love to see the Chelsea Football Team, Soccer team, Show Choir Corp members, Boy and Girl Scout Troops, Church Youth groups and similar local groups have a large volunteer turn out.
"Given the tasks required June 9 and 10, we feel we are able to provide a job for everyone," she said. That is what makes Timber Town so great, it's a play structure for everyone!"
The June volunteers are encouraged to bring ladders, wheelbarrows, shovels, paint rollers and brushes, 80-grit sandpaper, palm sanders, paper towels and rags, beverages and snacks. Donors should label equipment with their name and phone number.
A free day care facility for children ages 3 and up is offered June 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Washington Street Community Center.
According to Chelsea parent Diane Bloom, a Chelsea Girl Scout Troop leader who is organizing of the Timber Town day care program, up to 60 children can be accommodated at one time. For more information, contact Bloom at 475-8690 or Diane@factotem.com
For more information about volunteering or to make a donation of money or tools, contact Amy Mitchell at 475-4401. Information can also be found at www.thingstodoinchelsea.com/timbertown.html.
.Sheila Pursglove is a freelance writer. She can be reached at bingley51@yahoo.com.
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