On July 24, Texas Roadhouse became the largest single donor to Pirate Playground by presenting a check for $22,000.  With that amount, the playground will soon see an additional feature called the “Sway Fun.”  Riders go up a ramp, take a seat (or bring their own!) in the boat-shaped area, and start the swaying!  Take a look at this video of the ride!

 Sway Fun Video

Finally, after 5 years of planning, fund-raising, and building, PIRATE PLAYGROUND is ready to open!  The ribbon-cutting ceremony is at Noon today, and the Grand “Play” Opening for children is tomorrow (May 10) at 9 AM.  Hope you can join us for these joyous occasions!  Can’t wait to show you the pictures of these events!

Over 50 volunteers showed up Saturday, April 26, to ready the playground for its grand opening on May 9/10.  Thanks to everyone that shoveled, raked, planted, mulched, cleaned, assembled, painted, cemented, and cooked!

Everybody get your work gloves ready and come on down to the COMMUNITY BUILD DAY at the Pirate Playground on April 26.  There will be plenty of jobs for all, including planting, assembling equipment, installing benches, and tidying up the place!  Lunch will be provided onsite.  Kids are welcome to come and help, too.  Stay for an hour or stay all day – any amount of time you can spend with us is appreciated.  This will be the last major effort needed to get the park ready for the grand opening in May (more info about that later), so WE NEED YOUR HELP.  See you at the playground on April 26!

Many children from our community have been working extremely hard making pavers that will be used in Pirate Playground. These pavers will be showcased this weekend at our 4th Annual Heel-n-Wheel. Please come out to support this project by walking in this great event. Each dollar raised will be matched with two dollars from the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.

This team of hard workers… and many others… built the first features in the new playground!  Next build date:  March 22. 

Team Lucky Fin -2013 “Best Decorated”

The fourth annual Heel-n-Wheel is coming March 29!  This event supports the construction of the Pirate Playground.  This year, we’re excited to have The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida as a partner.  Through this organization, every dollar donated to the Heel-n-Wheel will be matched 2x.  So, every $1.00 = $3.00!

We’ll begin the day at the Main Beach Skate Park with registration/check in at 9:00 – 9:45 AM.  Bring a wheelchair or borrow one from us at the event.  Decorate your wheelchair.  After a brief welcome at 9:45 AM, we’ll hit the road on the 2-mile walk from the Skate Park to Atlantic Recreation Center and back.  While you’re at the Rec Center, you can see the work already being done on the playground!

After the Heel-n-Wheel, join us at the Main Beach for the Slide Into Spring Music and Craft Beer Festival benefitting the playground.

To register your team for the Heel-n-Wheel:

Fill out this form – Team Registration Form

Email it to 8flagsplayscapes@gmail.com or mail it to 8 Flags Playscapes, PO Box 15158, Fernandina Beach, FL 32035.

Download the participant pack for each member of your team – Page 1    Page 2    Participant packs are also available at Red Otter and the Atlantic Recreation Center.

Teams registering by March 7 will receive T-shirts.

Prizes will be awarded for the team that raises the greatest amount for the playground and for the team with the best decorated wheelchair.  Teams or individuals will receive one free ticket to Slide Into Spring for each $150 raised.

See you at the Heel-n-Wheel!

Save the date – March 29!  The City of Fernandina Beach is hosting a Music and Craft Beer Festival to benefit our Pirate Playground.  Check out the event at www.slideintospring.com.  All proceeds will be applied toward the construction of the park.  Get your tickets today!

As the new year rings in, Pirate Playground is on track for its debut in the spring.  We’ve got our building permits in hand and have ordered our first large selection of equipment!

Doesn’t it look wonderful?  Like a DREAM come true!

Check back here often to see our progress.

We enter this season with joy,  happiness, and accomplishment!   Thanks to all who have helped, we will start construction on Pirate Playground this month as Myers Tractor Services will prepare the location of Pirate Playground for construction. 

 Many thanks to our friends who have worked tirelessly over the past couple of months to make this possible.  Gillette and Associates has worked extremely hard on our design to make it perfect.  Buchannan Builders has been working to coordinate a fantastic build.  Manzie and Drake Land Surveyors has worked and will be working on surveying the land so that the playground build is smooth.  Cotner and Associates has coordinated a impressive volunteer effort for Pirate Playground with the help of Donna Lynne Custom Homes, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Property Management Systems, Inc., and Bank of America who have all donated labor for element construction.   P-5 Productions has made beautiful new pennants for our Dream Pole along Atlantic Avenue.  The Fernandina Beach City Government has been wonderful in their support for this project.  Finally, without the support of the City of Fernandina Beach Recreation Department, this project would not happen. They have been fantastic and we’re proud to call them partners in this endeavor. 

We also thank those who support this project monetarily.  Many in our community have decided to become “Dreamers.”  You can see their pennants on the “Dream” Pole located in front of the Atlantic Avenue Rec Center.  This past month has been our biggest month to date with donations from FPUC ($6,000) and the Fernandina Foundation ($10,000).  These commitments are extremely important to our success,  but even donations of $1 are important as every dollar raised is used toward playground construction.  Many thanks to all of you who have given to this project.  Because of you,  we are very close to our goal and everyone will soon have a place to play together.

Please feel free to contact us anytime for information regarding this project.  We are in need of volunteers, donations, in-kind donations, labor, etc.   There are many opportunities for you to take part and make a huge difference in the lives of many in our community.