It took six years, but kids in Viola, Idaho, now have a place to play.
The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports on the recently completed playground at the Viola Community Center, a large, red barn-style building that's been used for everything from weddings to community theater to dances.
"We have recognized for years that a gathering place for all ages is needed for any community to stay connected," says the board president of the center, which opened in 2018.
But with plans for the center moving along and playground equipment purchased in 2016, the Viola Community Club's board of directors wondered, "What if we added a playground?" That's when Realtor Bill Hall came up with the idea for a Placemaker grant, awarded by the National Association of Realtors to help communities transform spaces.
The grant application was successful, and $5,000 was given to the Latah Board of Realtors to help Viola complete the project.
The project was done with as much volunteer work as possible, which takes time: "Volunteer work comes after other life commitments, which slows the process and makes certain tasks like pouring concrete in the middle of a weekday a real sacrifice for those who step up to help," says the board president.
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