As we have seen so many times before, a tragedy spurs a community to come together to create a greater gift than the tragic fire destroyed; and the social capital of the community is also renewed and deepened.
Out of ashes, play fort rises
By Pamela Martineau - Bee Staff Writer Published 12:00 am PST Monday, November 13, 2006
"What you spend years building can be destroyed overnight. Build it anyway." -- Attributed to Mother Teresa
It took days, not years, for neighbors to build the Fort Natomas playground the first time 15 years ago.
It was destroyed overnight by arsonists last summer.
On Sunday, neighbors finished rebuilding the playground in Sacramento's Jefferson Park after a seven-day military-style construction campaign that relied on hundreds of volunteers and communal blind faith that what they built would not be destroyed again.
"You could be heartbroken about (the first playground burning), but it's done," said Jim Bacchini, one of the coordinators of the construction project.
"We decided to rebuild it while it was still smoking," he added.
Grandmothers worked side by side with teenagers pushing sand-filled wheelbarrows or assembling pieces of the fort-like structure, which is made of a plastic that looks like wood.
Anywhere from 200 to 500 people from all over Natomas and beyond came out each day to assist the effort, relying on donations from businesses and individuals to buy materials.
Restaurants nearby donated food for the workers, many of whom kept at their labor through the rain Saturday.
"People have just been walking up and dropping off food," said Liz Keene, food coordinator for the project. "It's been amazing, the outpouring of support. People come up and give cash."
