Habitat for Humanity adds playground to Garden Gate

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About 40 volunteers grabbed hammers, nails and power tools to build slides, swings and sandboxes Saturday, Sept. 8, at Garden Gate in Woodbury.

The Habitat for Humanity townhome development now has a playground open to children living there as well as others from the area.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity officials decided to build the playground “to bring families together and build something positive for their community,” according to a news release.

“What better way to build a community than through families interacting together through play,” said Mark Turbak, corporate and in-kind relations senior associate.

Habitat for Humanity is looking for sponsors to fund the $30,000 playground project.

So far, the organization has been able to raise a third of the costs from two corporate sponsors, Turbak said.

He added that it would’ve been ideal to raise the funds prior to building the playground.

The organization will use $20,000 out of its operating fund to pay for the project until more sponsors are found, he said.

The playground is located in the middle of the Garden Gate Development, which is situated in the city’s northeast corner. Habitat for Humanity is anticipating a lot of children will live in the area.

So far Habitat has built 15 homes and will build 19 more in the coming years. Upon completion in 2014, the Garden Gate Development will house 40 families.

Volunteers worked all day Saturday to finish the playground. They included members of the Woodbury Community Foundation, employees from corporate sponsors and Garden Gate families.

Tags: area news, news, woodbury