Mary Daversa, Mikey's MOM did not shrink from any task! Many others too hefted and hauled a myriad of wheelbarrows full of wood chips. The chips will provide a "natural" cushion for the children who use the playscape.

"Under the wood chips" was layed a generous layer of gravel and, where needed, drainage tiles to help preserve the resiliency of the wood chips and to discourage plants from taking over the playscape.

The front-end loader helped speed the work of hauling the dense gravel from the parking area to the playscape. The Bobcat* loader was used when space would not allow the use larger loader.

A special bio-barrier was sandwiched between the layers of the gravel underneath and the woodchips above. This layer was to enhance one-way drainage and to minimize the growth of unwanted vegetation on the playground.

Bobcat, wheelbarrows, rakes and people helped move a lot of chips into tight locations. In the background, the mountain of wood chips remains in this image of early work. Each area using a blanket of wood chips was surrounded by a twelve inch high border of an interlocking, plastic retaining wall.

A "bed" of wood chips, 12 - 15 inches deep was made around and under certain equipment.

Lynne (Lt) and Claire (Rt), having teamed up to put the "fire engine" together, now worked to assure that a child's ride would be a safer one, with the addition of the thick blanket of chips under and around it.

Members of the Wethersfield High School football team tackle the task of moving wood chips mountain to the playscape where needed.

"Groups and individuals helped wherever they could to complete this mammoth project"

"Momma Daversa cradles, comforts and coordinates all at the same time. Karen Gove keeps her company.