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Baltimore Playground Rebuilt After Fire Opens
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More Information About Volunteering At The Playground
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CBS
A follow up to a story Eyewitness News first brought you ten months ago. Arsonists set fire to a new community playground at Stadium Place in Waverly.
Ron Matz reports the playground was destroyed, but not the spirit of the community.
Sky Eye Chopper 13 showed you the torching of a community treasure.
Bill Carson saw the flames and then joined 2,000 other volunteers to make sure kids would have a place to play in a community filled with love.
Thursday, ten months later the children got their playground back.
The Y of Central Maryland says the new playground is bigger, better and safer.
"We've had over 2,000 volunteers here. We've rebuilt this playground. It's actually bigger, better, nicer and safer than last time," said John Hoey, president and CEO of the Y of Central Maryland. "We have fire resistant materials, a new surface, which is rubberized and fire resistant, it's cleaner and safer. We also have surveillance cameras and some other security measures to try to avoid what happened last time, but this is a public space, it's a public playground, so there's only so much you can do."
The night after the fire, more than 200 people came together at the playground to mourn their loss and agree to a new commitment to rebuild.
"The day after the fire we came back. Two-hundred people in the parking lot and we committed to rebuilding, because we knew it was the right thing to do. It wouldn't be easy, but we knew it was the right thing to do for the community and the children who are here right now," said Marisa Canino, president of Friends of the Playground.
City and state officials thanked volunteers for their hard work.
"I am so excited; to see so many kids playing on the playground. I really thought I was going to cry. It's such a good day after a lot of really hard work, but this is what makes it worth it," said Canino.
A new house and another miracle on 33rd Street.
"We haven't called it the Phoenix, but it is up from the ashes if you will. So to have an opportunity to see it reopen today is a good feeling," said Bill Carson, volunteer.
No one has been charged in connection with the fire but the investigation continues. A community celebration is being held at the playground Thursday evening.
The original 1,700-foot playground was built by 3,000 volunteers who came to Baltimore from as far away as North Carolina and New York. It opened in 2005. Fire officials suspect arson in the September fire that destroyed the playground, but the case remains open.
A community celebration featuring booths and games begins at 5:30 p.m.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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