Project Information

Who: A total of approximately 200 volunteers from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, General Motors, Quicken Loans and Rock Financial, People for Palmer Park, the City of Detroit and KaBOOM!.

Work is available for volunteers of all levels of skill and ability.

Please note - All youth under the legal working age for this state (15 years old and under) will be welcome to participate in youth activities, but will not be able to participate in building in the playground construction areas. Youth activities are only available on Build Day, Saturday, August 10. All Prep Days require volunteers 18 or older.

Build Day opportunities for youth

0–4 year olds must be accompanied by a parent during a Build Day. Parents are welcome to work with their children on community organized kids' activities (e.g. relay races, face painting and other games).
5-15 year olds can participate in special projects to make the playground site a welcoming community space (e.g. painting mural boards and stepping stones for pathways, writing thank you notes for volunteers), which will be organized as part of kids' activities.
16–17 year olds who are supervised by a parent, can help with playground equipment assembly and site improvement projects such as murals, gardens, and painting all outside of the playground construction zone (the flat dirt surface with holes dug for the playground structure).

All children on the build site, regardless of age, will need a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.

When: Saturday, August 10, 2019 from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Where: Palmer Park, 910 Merrill Plaisance, Detroit, MI 48203

What's Provided: Breakfast, lunch and water will be provided. Gloves and other safety materials will be provided for the projects that require them.

All Build Day volunteers will receive a t-shirt to wear during the project.

What to Wear: The playground build will happen rain or shine. Please come dressed for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are required; sneakers or work boots that you don't mind getting dirty are advisable. Please leave valuables at home as secure storage is not available on site.

Build Site Rules: All participants must comply with the following practices. These rules have been established and agreed upon to ensure the safety, comfort and respect for all involved. Failure to comply will result in immediate dismissal from the project.

Work together, treat everyone with respect and use family-friendly, inclusive language
Report any unsafe or inappropriate behavior to on-site staff
Please comply with all requests from on-site staff
Follow all safety guidelines
Only pre-approved power tools are permitted
Closed-toe shoes are required
Youth may not participate in areas of active construction
No smoking, alcohol or drugs
The use or carry of firearms is prohibited *with the exception of certified, active officers

Build Week Schedule

Delivery Day: Tuesday, August 6, 2019

15 volunteers are needed.

9:00 AM - Volunteers arrive and register
4:00 PM - All prep work completed (approximate time)

Prep Day 1: Wednesday, August 7, 2019

50 volunteers are needed.

9:00 AM - Volunteers arrive and register
4:00 PM - All prep work completed (approximate time)

Prep Day 2: Thursday, August 8, 2019

40 volunteers are needed.

9:00 AM - Volunteers arrive and register
4:00 PM - All prep work completed (approximate time)

Prep Day 3: Friday, August 9, 2019

25 volunteers should be on "stand-by" in case they are needed.

9:00 AM - Volunteers arrive and register
TBD - All prep work completed

Build Day: Saturday, August 10, 2019

200 volunteers are needed.

6:30 AM - Team Leaders arrive
8:00 AM - Volunteers arrive and register
8:30 AM - Kick-off ceremony
2:30 PM - Ribbon-cutting ceremony

Help build a playground at Palmer Park!