Turret top tile man Mike Henderson did the design and most of the tile work on the turret of the main castle at Roxhill Park, that's a dragon's nose and eye you see pictured. He's hoping to get some volunteers to help finish the work.
The remodeled, reimagined and rebuilt Roxhill Playground is nearing completion with only a few weeks left before it is finalized but that last important detail, the tiled turret top on the main castle needs some more helping hands.
The West Seattle Herald covered the preparations and assembly of all the pieces and parts before winter set in. The work done then was a major set of volunteers working hard.
The dedication which had been set for January has been delayed.
Mike Henderson, artist, architect and now tile man has "about 300 hours" of work into the project which is surprisingly detailed.
The top is now decorated with a large dragon (two eyes, a big nose, big teeth and a "fancy pineapple top" and a "cartoony 2-D body" with a "tail looping around" made of tile that literally came out of a dumpster recovered by Henderson. Also part of the design is an astronaut and "Yoda-like" dog on one side. Some of the design grew out of time spent with his son and 1940's science fiction.
It's all secured with an epoxy like grout making it super durable.
Now though Henderson needs help. "We need to clean it and grout it."
If you'd like to volunteer you can dress the part (work clothes) and come by or inquire with Henderson via email at centerforawesome@gmail.com .
He will be there from 10am to 2pm normally but this week he is going to be on site Thursday, Friday and Saturday longer hours to wrap it up.
"This will be done by the end of next weekend," Henderson said, but the park completion is "kind of a moving target."
He can't speak for the Seattle Parks Department which must sign off on the final project or West Seattle's Grindline Skateparks, working just adjacent to the playground on the "skatespot," but talking on March 2 estimated it would be 4 to 6 weeks away.
