***MEDIA ADVISORY***

Mayor Dixon to Greet Volunteers on First Day of Playground Rebuild
Community Volunteers Launch Six-Day Build

Media Advisory For:? May 5, 2009
Media Contact: Sara Milstein: 443-831-3939

(Baltimore, MD) – At the site of the former Memorial Stadium at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Family Center Y, thousands of city-wide volunteers will come together to rebuild after a devastating fire destroyed the Stadium Playground. ?Mayor Sheila Dixon and John K. Hoey, President and CEO of the Y of Central Maryland will address the first crew of volunteers in a project launch celebration and will join in the work, together with City Hall and Y staff along with area youth.

The playground will be rebuilt by approximately 2,300 volunteers May 5th through 10th.

WHAT: Playground rebuild launch

WHEN: Tuesday, May 5, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: 900 E. 33rd Street, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Family Center Y

BACKGROUND: The community playground at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Family Center Y at Stadium Place burned to the ground September 9, 2008, but is about to come back to life through a community led volunteer effort starting May 5th with completion on Mother?s Day. The Y of Central Maryland?s insurance will cover most of the replacement costs for the playground equipment but funds and volunteers are still needed.

In 2005, the original playground was built over 9 days with more than 3,000 dedicated volunteers who came from all over Maryland and as far as North Carolina and New York to build the 1,700 square foot playground. ?The night after the fire, more than 200 people came together outside the playground to mourn and commit to rebuilding.

Volunteers will fill a large array of jobs including builders (skilled and unskilled), food servers, people to take care of children of the builders, and greeters to sign in other volunteers. Nearly 2,000 workers are already signed up but skilled workers are still needed.

Those interested in volunteering can visit www.stadiumplayground.org to sign up or call 443-756-6198 for more information.

The Y of Central Maryland and Friends of Our Playground at Stadium Place are mutually focused on improving the lives of the children and youth by providing safe and enriching opportunities for play and recreation. These organizations have joined together to rebuild Our Playground at Stadium Place after the tragic fire in September of 2008. We invite, and thank you for, your participation and support.

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