Trip to New Orleans The playground before and after
 
The playground when we arrived was quite a mess - overgrown with weeds...
...and feeling very dishevilled and forelorn.
Quite a bit of the structure was broken.  A few parts were damaged from vandalism before the storm.
 
By the time we were through, it felt like a happy and welcoming place again. The moment that really stood out for me came when the kids started an impromptu soccer game and suddenly the space around us was ringing with the voices of kids playing.
It was important to the kids to leave a "Welcome back" sign for families returning to the neighborhood.  It occurred to me that the sign will be apropos to the daily comings and goings as well as the first time each returning family sees it.
Links to follow Our story in the words of the kids
The playground before and after
Cleaning up the playground
End of the first day
Working on the "Bronco"
The last day
Scenes of the nearby devastation
How you can help!
 

Copyright 2006 by Kurt Meyer