The children have spoken:
Wildcat Park is a success

by Perry Koontz
of the Gazette-Times
8 May 1989

In one of the largest volunteer projects in Corvallis history, Wildcat Park was completed Sunday evening.

More than 1,000 people were on hand for the 7 p.m. official opening and spaghetti feed. The even celebrated the culmination of three years of planning and fund raising, and the end of the five-day construction effort that began Wednesday.

"I think we have built more than a playground. I think we have built up community spirit," said Barbara Pastega, "co-chair mom" of the project.

None of us will ever be the same and I think it is for the better. I know a lot of friendships have been made out there and people are taking on ownership," Pastega said.

During the dedication, Inman asked the children to thank their parents and for the parents to thank their children for the time and effort they spent working to create Wildcat Park.

The project is still $5,000 shy of its $78,000 goal, but the multiturreted, multimazed playground has everything from telephones to tire swings and is now fully operational.

Children were let loose Sunday night on the new facility, located on the grounds of Wilson Elementary School. They gave a thorough professional testing of the various slides, ladders, monkey bars, tunnels and moving floors. The final verdict was not unexpected: They liked it.

The blueprint for Wildact Park was drawn up by Robert Leathers, a nationally known architect from Ithaca, N.Y., who specializes in building playgrounds.

But much more was involved than bolting, nailing and raking the innovative park into place under the guidance of three of Leathers' personnel.

Throughout the five days of construction, tools, trucks, and earth-moving equipment were donated; child care with special entertainment for the kids was provided; foods and drinks were donated, made and served; errands were run; telephones were manned; materials were purchased and hauled to the site; and organizers and supervisors kept it all moving along in an orderly fashion -- all without sustaining a major injury from the massive volunteer labor force.

"The safety has been a major concern, but all we've had are slivers, blisters and sunburns," Pastega said.

While people power was a major factor, several local businesses, organizations and groups donated materials, food and money to help create Wildcat Park.

"I don't know if there is a business in town that hasn't helped build this park," Pastega said. "It was truly a community effort."

Inman and Pastega said the newly completed park will last not only because it is well-built, but because of who built it.

"They feel like it is theirs," said Inman of the children who helped build it. "They take a lot of pride in knowing they built some part of it. Everybody involved does."

This was from the May 8th, 1989 edition of the Gazette Times.