Want to help build a playground?

The residents of Walnut Hill are seeking help building a new playground. The Tool Library will be loaning the tools for the construction. But the community still needs volunteers. Below is an email from one of the organizers.

Dear Friends of the 47th and Sansom Playground,

Our August 6th playground build is now one month away!

In case you have not passed by the playground in a while, I wanted to let you know that demolition and site preparation began yesterday, clearing away all the old play equipment to make room for the amazing new design. You can see pictures and get updates by visiting our website and clicking "Join Our Team."

We are still looking for a few Build Day volunteers to help on August 6th from 8 AM to 3PM. If you can help, please call Imanni at 215-895-4095. For extra credit, you could help out with site prep on August 4th from 8 AM to 4 PM.

My deepest thanks to all of you for your help with this playground project. I look forward to hearing from you!

Warmly,

Imanni

You can email Imanni directly by clicking here.

Member builds beautiful new patio alcove

BEFORE

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
AFTER

Tool Library member Matt Wysong e-mailed us about a recent project of his:

I wanted to share a project I did in my backyard with a sledgehammer and circular saw I borrowed from the Tool Library. I also used a drill, shovel and and level of my own. The materials I needed were 4x4 pressure treated timbers, steel rebar and leveling sand.

My backyard rises 4 feet from my back patio and is essentially the remnants of a row of homes that were demolished into themselves. I wanted to open my patio up a bit and remove some of the hardscape, so I decided to knock down a portion of the former house to create a planting bed with a terraced effect.

One of the biggest challenges was digging out the fill in my backyard, which is basically the remnants of the house - brick, wood, glass, other debris, and not to mention some nasty stuff I didn't want to breath in. The other challenge was drilling though pressure treated would to insert rebar.

Once I was done, I backfilled with new soil and planted a Cherry Plum tree and some annuals in the bed and some upright growing Yews to frame the bed up top. I also transplanted some Tiger Lillies and daffodils into the bed that were already growing in my yard. Take a look at the before, after and construction pics. I couldn't have done it without the Tool Library. I re-poured my front steps 2 weeks ago...so more to come!