Volunteers gather at the arch of Project Playground during the first day of the community rebuilt, Aug. 8, 2018. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Volunteers gather at the arch of Project Playground during the first day of the community rebuilt, Aug. 8, 2018. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Project Playground to reopen

Event planned for next Saturday

For the first time since it burnt down in April of 2017, children will play at Project Playground.

The Twin Lakes playground has been fully rebuilt and will hold its grand reopening next Saturday at noon. The City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation Department and the Project Playground Steering Committee are celebrating with a free event complete with food, cake and activities from noon-5 p.m. at Twin Lakes.

Parks and Recreation Director George Schaaf, Mayor Ken Koelsch, Deputy City Manager Mila Cosgrove and Project Playground Steering Committe Chair Mike Goldstein will give short speeches starting at noon. Playground time starts at 12:45 p.m., and cake will be served at 2:30 p.m.

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Food venders and activities are available the whole time. Parking is at the Twin Lakes parking lot, with overflow parking along Glacier Highway and at the Juneau Public Health Center across the street.

A community effort helped raise the playground back from the ashes of its 2017 fire. Only the park’s original entryway remained after children played with fire in the playground, sparking the blaze.

Private donations and CBJ money helped fund the new playground, which will include additions to the old playground like slides, two 30-foot ziplines, a small artificial turf field and a poured-in-place play surface.

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