Organizers of Olympic View Church’s four-phase community park project “The Gathering Ground” at 503 N. Brown Road in Sequim look to cap off fundraising in March for its second phase and tentatively finish construction this summer. Its plan includes a pavilion and large concrete sequoia log.

Last August, phase one of the inclusive playground opened with a swing set, ziplines, preschool play set, merry-go-round, spinning pyramid and stationary musical instruments.

Pastor Lewis Godby said reaction from the community has been “over the top – unbelievable!”

Families use the structures throughout the week and weekends, Godby said, and he’s counted numerous times when up to 30 people were using the playground at a time.

“We are so gratified and have had lots of positive comments that it’s clean, it’s safe, and the kids love it,” he said.

The playground is open from dawn to dusk daily with organizers saying it’s meant to be available to the whole community with accessible structures for people of all ages and abilities.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Pastor Lewis Godby with Olympic View Church said they look to fully fund phase two of The Gathering Ground community playground project by the end of March so they can finish a pavilion and install a concrete sequoia log by the summer.

Project donation

Organizers have secured $20,000 so far for phase two, and an anonymous donor is willing to match up to $20,000 towards the second phase through March 30.

Godby said they’ll need about $75,000 for the second phase – $45,000 for the pavilion and $30,000 for the sequoia log.

“We just want to put it out there that a donor is willing to help if anybody in the community wants to participate too,” he said.

Donations to the project are tax-deductible, with more information available at gatheringgroundsequim.com. Donations can be made at the website or by mail to Olympic View Church, PO Box 488 Sequim, WA, 98382.

The concrete log is 12 feet long and seven feet tall and will allow children to climb on or go inside either by walking or in a wheelchair. It’s also planned as a quiet place to go on the playground, with an emphasis on creating a mindful playground for children with autism, Godby said.

“We’re super excited this will provide a special place for them,” he said.

The pavilion will be an approximate 1,200-square-foot structure designed for birthday parties, various gatherings without reservations, and for parents/guardians to sit on picnic tables while children play.

Organizers have secured a city permit for the project, and a retired contractor has committed to do the labor, Godby said, so the church just needs to pay for the materials for phase two.

For phase one, about 40 church attendees and community members volunteered their time to complete installation and companies either gave in-kind donations or discounts for time and materials.

Photo courtesy Olympic View Church/ Phase two of The Gathering Ground community playground at Olympic View Church includes a concrete log that organizers said creates a quieter place for children to go for imaginative play and/or to rest.

Future

Phase three includes a large hill with an in-ground slide, and an amphitheater on the back side, while phase four would replace wood chips with poured-in place rubber.

Godby said the church and community have donated about $230,000 towards the project, plus many in-kind volunteer hours.

Once phase two is complete, he said the playground will have cost about $300,000.

“We’ve really gotten a lot of bang for our buck,” Godby said.

Organizers have also experienced some pleasant surprises, too.

As Sequim Library continues to be renovated, Godby said North Olympic Library System gave the church some dirt to use for the Gathering Ground’s pavilion’s landscaping, which has been a hit with local children.

Godby said the dirt mounds are so popular, organizers are considering placing some hills for children to play on.

He’s also heard from many visitors that the playground feels “safe.”

“I’m glad people are feeling that,” he said.

They are also sharing “a lot of gratitude, and we want to encourage people to keep enjoying it.”

For more information on the church’s playground, visit gatheringgroundsequim.com.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash/ Phase one of The Gathering Ground opened last August, and it includes a Cyclo Cone Climber that can hold up to 20 children at a time. Phase two includes a pavilion and concrete sequoia log.