Forty-five years ago, at the height of the race to the Moon, a young White Center dentist filled a void, helping to develop a special kids play area called Astro City Children's Park.

The White Center Chamber needed someone to spearhead a fund raising effort to clean up a brushy area south of the old library building near the field house that had been the scene of a sexual assault some months before. The park was also missing its beloved WW II Navy Wildcat, removed previously, never to return. Kids had nothing but a merry-go-round and some swing sets. With community pride at stake, that dentist, Roy Velling spent many hours building interest and collecting cash.

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The county owns the park. Dr. Velling owned the hearts of the community. Steadfastly he met the challenge. The Chamber generously put up $250. Kiwanis added $700 and the Lions Club provided $630. A few business people tossed in $50 each. Roy gave $100 himself. The goal was the princely sum of $12,000. In today's dollars, probably close to $90,000 to turn some brush and dirt into a space age play park with flying saucers and rocket ship slides.

In 1966 the Gemini Space program at NASA was well under way. Astronauts were busy preparing for John F. Kennedy's presidential pledge to have a man on the Moon before the end of the decade. Names like Scott Carpenter and John Glenn were familiar. Other men like Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Richard F. Gordon would train during Gemini missions in preparation for the Apollo program by 1969.

State. Sen. Brock Adams worked some magic in Washington D.C. convincing astronaut Gordon to help dedicate the new park. It was a natural fit. Gordon was a Northwest man, having been born in Seattle and raised in Poulsbo.

Dr. Velling continued his pursuit through the summer of '66. The brush was cleared. The land leveled. Pads installed and equipment ordered. It came together with the excitement of a moon mission at Cape Kennedy. The dentist was near his goal, needing only $300 to hit his mark. The manager of a local store had ignored previous requests for financial help. Chubby and Tubby was a popular variety store just off Roxbury St. With the power of the press behind Roy, the White Center News brought public attention to the store manager's reluctance to participate. Apparently it worked. He called Dr.Velling up that very week and asked how much he needed to hit the $12,000. Roy answered that $300 would do it. "Come over and get a check," the manager muttered.

The goal had been reached. The stage was set. On Nov. 17, 1966, Astronaut Richard F. Gordon and a host of dignitaries showed up at little old White Center Park to dedicate Astro City Children's Park, later to be named Astroland.

The 33-foot high tower slide was a sensational hit. Commander Gordon attested to its thrill with a trip down the spiral. The flying saucer would move with the slightest nudge. More than 10,000 kids enjoyed their new park over the next few months because one community and one man made it happen.

Through time the play equipment served the kids well but wore out. It was removed in 1989 and replaced with a new play set and sawdust. Still later (today) it has a variety of climbing gyms and slides or swings. We told the story last week about the FM-2 Wildcat that had been a fixture at the park for several years. It is finally getting a face-lift much like the park did so many years ago. The park is open year round and the newly restored plane will be on display at the Museum of Flight on East Marginal Way sometime in 2012.

Maybe Dr. Velling will drop in for a visit to recall the impetus for his efforts 45 years earlier.