JEBLCFS Multicultural Heritage Committee Helps Rebuild Fun Forest

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Volunteers from the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Multicultural Heritage Committee and several other organizations, helped restore a fire damaged playground in Chesapeake, Va., Jan. 28.

The Fun Forest playground was damaged when an arsonist set fire to a major play structure in April 2010. The fire destroyed about one-third of the park with damages estimated to cost more than $200,000. Since then, the City of Chesapeake has been working on a plan to rebuild the damaged park.

"The City of Chesapeake is sponsoring the project, but due to budget constraints they are unable to provide the funding for the rebuild," said Logistics Specialist Chief Trudale Reed, Multicultural Heritage Committee president. "The majority of the funding came from private donations. The Parks and Recreation staffs have collaborated extensively with local business owners to help finance the project."

Leathers and Associates, the original builders of the Fun Forest playground, was rehired to execute the construction. Volunteers included the MHC-JEBLCFS, Sailors from aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), the Sapphira Pearl Community Service Club from Hickory High School, Building Trades Academy from Tidewater Builders Association, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and Salvation Army.

"Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, 'life's most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others'," quoted Reed. "The committee discussed what opportunities existed; where we could do a day of service in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. We chose Fun Forest."

The Rebuild Fun Forest was chosen as the MHC project to impact the community, as well as meet the president's National Call to Service initiative.

"The purpose of the MHC is to create an environment at JEBLCFS where Sailors, civilians and their families can understand, appreciate and respect each other's cultural differences," said Reed. "The committee was formed to keep the base commander abreast of cultural diversity issues and assist in the development of workable policies."

The committee is working toward promoting worthwhile projects in the community to facilitate a broader awareness of the talent, diversity and experience amongst the Sailors and civilians in our community.

Participation by the MHC in the Rebuild Fun Forest project was made possible by the City of Chesapeake's Parks and Recreation Staff, Bobby Clifton; Rebuild Fun Forest Coordinator and former director of the City of Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department and Master Chief Andrew Thompson, JEBLCFS command master chief.

"MHC is new to the base and Fun Forest Rebuild is our first community outreach; and it was successful," said Thompson. "We are looking forward to doing more projects in the future."

For more news from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, visit www.navy.mil/local/jeblcfs/.