latest on baby ward's playground

From the Bell Buckle Park Board Newsletter:

Ward’s playground is on its way. Mark your calendar for Friday, October 21st and Saturday, October 22nd to install the playground. We need at least 20 people to show up to help put in Ward’s playground. We will work rain or shine. We may end up working on Sunday, October 23rd if needed. Please come and help for as little or as long as you can help.

James and Julie Anderson along with the Bell Buckle Park Board have decided on a playground design from Leisure Lines Inc. out of Morrow, Georgia. They are the company that Cascade Elementary decided upon when they installed their new playground equipment this past Spring.

According to Julie, the playground will include “a very large big kids' playset, a toddler playstation, and a swingset with 8 swings, as well as wood based mulch with a drainage system, and a construction supervisor for two days. The total area for this is around 6000 square feet.” The Andersons have commissioned Russ Faxon to create a life size bronze sculpture of Ward holding the bug http://russfaxon.com/content.html , and they are also looking into a mosaic-cement sculpture of a lobster by Sherri Warner Hunter. http://www.sherriwarnerhunter.com/index.htm Sherri's work can be seen at Dragon Park and also at the Nashville airport, as well as other places in Nashville and middle Tennessee. Julie has told us that they are looking into a large stone block with engraving “stating that it's a playground in memory of Wardie”. This may be granite or sandstone or maybe some other material depending on the look and the price. Ward's sculpture will probably go on top of this. Donations are still coming in daily. In the future, James and Julie hope to add “a few spring mounted one-person bouncy things that are about $650 each.”

A dedication ceremony on Ward’s 3rd birthday is scheduled for Friday, October 28th at 5:00 at the playground. Plans are still being worked on for the dedication.

In order to keep up with everything that is going on, please continue to check the Bell Buckle Park web site at www.BellBucklePark.info for information on what tools and materials, etc. may be needed for installation and details on the dedication.

The Bell Buckle Park Board echoes James and Julie’s thoughts, “We are very proud that Ward will have a nice playground and artwork in his honor, built by the love people have for him. We really miss him a lot.”