Work for Play

First you work; then you play. Members of UAW Local 598 spent a few October days building this playground at Bluebell Beach in Flint. The Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission purchased the playground equipment with federal grant money and Local 598 volunteers — saving the county $35,000 to buy more fun stuff — did the construction.

These folks are getting to be old hands at playground construction. They built the first of four community playgrounds at Buell Elementary School on Memorial Day weekend in 2000 in response to the tragic shooting of 6-year-old Kayla Rolland earlier that year. The union raised more than $100,000 for that one. In 2001, they built the playground at Washington Elementary School, and in June 2002, a playground was built at Dukette Catholic School. All three schools are located in high poverty areas of Genesee County.

“It’s another example of how the UAW can shine some light on the community in terms of helping kids that have a tougher road to travel,” said Bob Roth, director of UAW Region 1C where the playgrounds were built.