Playground planners meeting Wednesday

June 5, 2007

By John R. Moses

Frontiersman

TALKEETNA - Organizers of Talkeetna's playground project hope to meet with a nationally-known playground designer in September, and must do a lot of fund raising between then and now to make that happen.

But it takes money to make money.

The committee learned last month that $800 in donations raised through private fund raising and a bake sale wouldn't cover the more than $2,000 needed to order canvas bags and Frisbees the group hopes to customize and sell at next month's Moose Dropping festival.

&#8220We're working on all that,” said playground drive organizer Karey Larsen.

Money to fill the gap must be found when the panel meets Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Talkeetna's public library. The group hopes to sell enough bags at the festival to raise $6,000.

The group may discuss the best date for a meeting with a designer from Leathers & Associates, a leading playground design firm that has worked in several Alaska cities.

Larsen said a mid-September meeting may be best meeting time for families planning a winter getaway.

Bringing the consultant to Talkeetna is an immediate goal so design plans can begin.

&#8220It's going to cost us $3,000,” she said. &#8220Once we have that design, that's when we're really going to kick into gear.”

Last month the group discussed setting levels of sponsorship for those who wish to donate, perhaps attaching a themed name to each of those levels celebrating things found in nature.

The playground drive started last winter and has the support of the borough and the Talkeetna Town Council. The borough will likely choose to build the playground on a site next to Talkeetna's library on the Talkeetna Spur.

Contact John Moses at 352-2270 or john.moses@frontiersman.com