An explosion of activity next Saturday will leave one Washington neighborhood with a new playground, built by volunteers for the children in need of better outdoor activities.

KaBOOM! playground builders, a national nonprofit with a mission to give children outdoor play spaces across the U.S., will bring together representatives from the Oakcrest housing complex, the Washington Housing Authority, law enforcement, civic organizations, social services and local churches to pitch for playground construction at WHA’s Oakcrest housing complex on Dec. 14.

“We’ve really had a great response from the community,” said Marc Recko, Executive Director of WHA and Mid-East Regional Housing Authority. “We’re getting excited. It’s starting to happen.”

“I think it’s great,” said Washington City Manager Brian Alligood, in reference to a new playground in the Oakcrest complex. “It gives kids the opportunity to get out and play. There’s a lot of concern nowadays about childhood obesity and kids not having access to recreation—just getting outdoors and playing. Just having access to that has got to do good stuff for energy and wellness and those types of things.”

The process has been several months in the making. KaBOOM!, in conjunction with funding from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust’s Healthy Places NC, provided neighborhood children the opportunity to give their input for an ideal playground and community volunteers a chance to choose equipment options for the play space. It’s the second playground built by volunteer effort in Beaufort County this year: On Oct. 26, over 200 people constructed one in Belhaven starting at 8 a.m., wrapping up the event with a ribbon cutting by mid-afternoon.

Organizers for the Washington playground are counting on the same turnout and timeline and with the number of folks who are lending a hand, either physically or financially, by the end of the day on Dec. 14, Oakcrest children should have a playground, according to Recko.

“The city, the police and sheriff’s departments are going to have a good showing, as well as the city administration,” Recko said, adding that N.C. Senator Bill Cook has committed to helping with the build, as well.

Recko said organizers have raised $3,000 of the $8,000 of their share of the playground and continue to seek donations from the community at large. But donations for the playground’s actual build day have come pouring in from other sources: from local contractors offering use of their tools to area chain restaurants and grocery stores, as well as local caterer, Keyser Catering, providing the food for hungry volunteers.

“We’re not just going to be there working, we’ll be eating, too,” Recko laughed. “You’ve got to feed the army.”

In the meantime, playground organizers will continue to get the word out about the coming build day, joining Girl Scout Troop 3028 on a float in the Washington Christmas parade today. Recko has extended an open invitation to anyone who’d like to volunteer his or her time to attend Thursday’s prep day — in which the playground area is prepared for build day ahead of time — and the Dec. 14 build day.

To volunteer or donate to the Oakcrest KaBOOM! playground build, call Marc Recko at 252-944-7284. Donations by check can be sent directly to the Washington Housing Authority.