Hundreds of volunteers create Kid Country 2012

To create a new Kid Country at Andy Brown Park East was a major undertaking.

But, thanks to hundreds of volunteers who worked hard last week, Kid Country 2012 was opened to the public following a brief ceremony shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday.

Following a ribbon cutting by Coppell Mayor Karen Hunt, co-chairmen of the Kid Country 2012 and others, scores of children invaded the park and quickly climbed the 19-foot-tall spider web, got into the tree house or on other play equipment in the rebuilt playground.

Ed Guignon, who co-chaired the project with Jack Clark and Neil Bales, said an estimated 2,000 people came to the park at one time or another last week to volunteer their time and talents, at least for a little while, to see that the project was completed. Some volunteered to work for long hours and on several different days.

At times, there were between 300 and 400 volunteers working at one time on the project. At other times, there were as few as 70, but the job got completed.

By 5 p.m. Sunday, Guignon said, the work was about 98 percent completed. Workers returned on Monday and Tuesday to put the finishing touches on the project.

In cool weather, with a light sprinkle being felt, a crowd of several hundred people waited at the gate Sunday evening as the mayor, Guignon and Clark made brief speeches before the ribbon was cut and the crowd was allowed to advance into Kid Country.

The mayor praised all who had a part.

“We are excited and thankful for all of the volunteers,” she said.

Guignon praised members of the Coppell Park Board, the Coppell Fire Department and other city workers for their assistance in making the half million dollar project a success.

Greg Garcia, a former member of the Coppell City Council and a current member of the park board, said, “The Park Board realized a couple of years ago that Kid Country was in need of repair. We appointed Ed Guignon, Jack Clark and Neil Bales to serve as co-chairmen for the project. Those men did an outstanding job.”

Kid Country was first built in 1992, and served the city for 20 years. City officials are hopeful that the new Kid Country 2012 will serve the city for another 30 years.

As of Sunday, Kid Country 2012 was still a little short of the goal of $500,000 which had been set to pay for the project. Guignon announced that donations will still be accepted through the Oak Fest event, which is scheduled at Andy Brown East Park on Oct. 20.

Businesses, organizations and individuals who donate $500 or more will get their name on a donor wall at the entrance to Kid Country.

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