Volunteers from around the community worked together with the non-profit organization KaBOOM! to build a new playground for the Delridge Community Center on July 17.

In just one day the site transformed from holes and gravel to a completed play area. Throughout the day volunteers moved 165 cubic yards of mulch and mixed 14,000 pounds of concrete as well as building the actual play structures, landscaping and installing art projects by children in the community.

The project kicked off at 8 a.m. with words from Mayor Greg Nickels and Seattle Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher and the rallying of nearly an estimated 270 volunteers.

“Thank you for coming out,” Nickels said to the many volunteers. “It’s going to be a great day, and it’s going to make a difference for the children here today and the children to come.”

At 11 a.m. the volunteers had made significant progress and KaBOOM! project manager Justin Fitzgerald said the project was progressing well.

"We're probably ahead of schedule thanks to the great energy of the Delridge community," said Fitzgerald. "We're having a blast."

The project was finished a half hour before KaBOOM! had initially estimated, at about 1:45 p.m.

Delridge residents Chris and Andy Southam were motivated to help with the project so that their 3-year-old daughter Isabella would have a place to play. They explained that the old playground was unsafe and inappropriate for children as young as theirs.

"The playground that was here before didn't work," Andy said. "But this is amazing."

Betsey Hoffmeister, co-vice chair of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, explained that her organization had been trying to get a new playground built in the park for years, but it wasn't until KaBOOM! called them a few months ago that the "dream" became a reality.

“It was amazing,” Hoffmeister said. “What better way to spend the day than to build a playground.”

KaBOOM! is a non-profit organization that helps communities to build their own playgrounds. After meeting with community members on May 12, and even asking children to draw their “dream” playground, KaBOOM! designed the new Delridge Playground according to their.

The Bank of America Foundation funded the project and had a number of volunteers on site to help with the building. It is the fifth KaBOOM! playground they have sponsored in the United States, including one in Seattle’s New Holly community.

The playground’s official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on July 23. Please check back for updates.