Who: A total of approximately 200 volunteers from BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
Work is available for volunteers of all levels of skill and ability.
Please note: All youth under the legal working age for this state will be welcome to participate in youth activities but will not be able to participate in building in the playground construction areas.
Build Day opportunities for youth
- 0–4 year olds must be accompanied by a parent during a Build Day. Parents are welcome to work with their children on community organized kids’ activities (e.g. relay races, face painting and other games).
- 5 to legal working age can participate in special projects to make the playground site a welcoming community space (e.g. painting mural boards and stepping stones for pathways, writing thank you notes for volunteers), which will be organized as part of kids’ activities.
- Legal working age to 17 year olds who are supervised by a parent, can help with playground equipment assembly and site improvement projects such as murals, gardens, and painting all outside of the playground construction zone (the flat dirt surface with holes dug for the playground structure).
All children on the build site, regardless of age, will need a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.
Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 175 N. Parade Street, Buffalo, NY 14211
What’s Provided: Breakfast, lunch and water will be provided. Gloves and other safety materials will be provided for the projects that require them.
What to Wear: The playground build will happen rain or shine. Please come dressed for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are required; sneakers or work boots that you don’t mind getting dirty are advisable. Please leave valuables at home as secure storage is not available on site.
Build Site Rules: All participants must comply with the following practices. These rules have been established and agreed upon to ensure the safety, comfort and respect for all involved. Failure to comply will result in immediate dismissal from the project.
- Work together, treat everyone with respect and use family-friendly, inclusive language
- Report any unsafe or inappropriate behavior to on-site staff
- Please comply with all requests from on-site staff
- Follow all safety guidelines
- Only pre-approved power tools are permitted
- Closed-toe shoes are required
- Youth may not participate in areas of active construction
- No smoking, alcohol or drugs
- The use or carry of firearms is prohibited *with the exception of certified, active officers
- Sign up as a volunteer here: http://bit.ly/mlkplaygroundvolunteer
Build Week Schedule
Delivery Day: Monday, September 16, 2019 | 15 volunteers are needed
- 8:00 AM – Volunteers arrive and register
- 1:00 PM – All prep work completed (approximate time)
Prep Day 1: Tuesday, September 17, 2019 | 50 volunteers are needed
- 8:00 AM – Volunteers arrive and register
- 5:00 PM – All prep work completed (approximate time)
Prep Day 2: Wednesday, September 18, 2019 | 40 volunteers should be on “stand-by” in case they are needed
- 8:00 AM – Volunteers arrive and register
- 5:00 PM – All prep work completed
Prep Day 3: Thursday, September 19, 2019 | 25 volunteers should be on “stand-by” in case they are needed
- 8:00 AM – Volunteers arrive and register
- TBD – All prep work completed
Build Day: Friday, September 20, 2019 | 200 volunteers are needed
- 6:30 AM – Team Leaders arrive
- 8:00 AM – Volunteers arrive and register
- 8:30 AM – Kick-off ceremony
- 2:30 PM – Ribbon-cutting ceremony
Lemur Studios