About 40 people from throughout the community converged Friday on the lot behind the new St Joseph YMCA to to assemble a universal playground. The adults doing the work appeared to be having as much fun as the kids who will use it when it opens.

Lynn Smith, of Progressive Community Services, says the playground will not be finished until the middle of October, at which time they expect to hold a grand opening. In the meantime, volunteers have been busy.

“They are putting up panels, building slides, putting a lot of rivets in,” Smith said. “Some people have had a very riveting day.”

“They’re putting up play panels, they’re putting up musical instruments, they’re building trash cans and benches. There’s a lot going on.”

The project at 3500 North Village Drive has involved PCS as well as Buchanan County, the City of St Joseph, and the creator of the playground gear Unlimited Play.

Once the playground equipment is fully assembled, they’ll still need to pour concrete for sidewalks, install fences, and then install a “poured in place” soft surface.

You can follow their progress on the Progressive Community Services Facebook page (here)