Volunteers to rebuild Hempstead Village playground in one day

Hempstead Village’s parks and recreation department is partnering with the residents of Terrace Avenue, Hauppauge-based Amneal Pharmaceuticals, and national nonprofit KaBOOM! to install a new state-of-the-art playground in Mirschel Park — in one day.

The playground, at 90 Atlantic Ave., will be rebuilt on Sept. 14, from 6:30 a.m. until about 3:30 p.m. That day, more than 200 volunteers will be needed, officials said. Food and drinks will be available, they added.

“Currently there is a playground which is in very bad shape,” said Madelon McCullough, the project’s community engagement committee chairwoman and public relations committee co-chairwoman. “This new playground would provide a safer and cleaner environment for the children to play.”

Two days of preparation will be on Sept. 12 and 13, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 30 volunteers will be needed to assist with site preparation on day one and about 15 volunteers on day two, McCullough said.

A design day was held with community participation, and three designs were developed with input from community members, including parents and children. One design was chosen by the community.

“The best thing about it is that the community is invested in it,” said McCullough, founder of I AM TERRACE AVE, a community youth group. “They have helped design it, picked the colors, picked the equipment and will participate in building it. I feel that if the community helps build it, they will take care of it.”

For more information or to sign up to volunteer, call the Village Parks and Recreation Department at 516-478-6246.