Source: Kids contribute ideas for new Rowlett playground, dallasnews.com

By Emily Fox

According to 10-year-old Jonathan Pawlus, the new playground at Wedgewood Park should include a UFO, robots and a medieval fort with dirt cannons.

“You don’t aim the cannons at anybody,” he said. “Just three targets – the green aliens. That’s how you win!”On Thursday, Jonathan joined about 30 other kids, teens and parents invited by Kaboom!, a nonprofit organization specializing in building play areas, to share their ideas for the perfect playground. Those ideas will be incorporated into three possible design plans for a new playground at Wedgewood.

In about a week, the citizens of Rowlett will be able to vote for the best design on the city’s website. Recreation Division Manager Keshia Randle said residents will have another week to vote for their favorite before the online poll closes and the parts are ordered.

With help from more than 100 community volunteers, the playground will be built in one day, Dec. 4, at the park, 5701 Kenwood Drive. Life insurance group Foresters will provide funding for the playground as well as 50 to 75 volunteers.

Rowlett High School students Oliver Solcruz, 16, Gus Raney, 16, and Robert Mwangi, 15, drew detailed schematic-like drawings and argued over playground features as they sat together around the corner of a table. Oliver wanted to install a trampoline under a series of basketball goals.

“Then everyone can dunk,” he explained.

But Gus vetoed the idea. “Dude – that’s not exactly safe,” he said.

Wedgewood is one of 14 undeveloped parks in Rowlett. This is the first time the city has partnered with Kaboom! to build a playground. Wayne Baxter, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, said he hoped the city and community could learn a lot from the experience.

“Hopefully we use this model to build more playgrounds and to develop more of our parks,” he said.

Natalie Yarbroughjust can’t wait to have a new place to play. Every time she goes to a park with her grandmother, Rosana Mayo, the pair always have to leave before the 10-year-old is ready. Natalie said she came up with the perfect solution – an adult play corner with hammocks and a snack and juice table.

“My playground has a clubhouse, a sandbox, a rock wall, a smaller clubhouse, a bridge, monkey bars, swings,” she said. “And over here, Grandma can take a nap while I keep playing.”