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Off the Clock Playground and Liming of Southwestern Youth Association Field of Dreams By Bonnie Hobbs, Centre View F or last year���s day of service, PLANET and National Hispanic Landscape Alliance chose to help the Southwestern Youth Association in Centreville, Va. Volunteers built a playground and lime five natural grass ball fields. Children may now play in a brand-new play ground at the SYA youth sports complex, ���Fields of Dreams,��� off Bull Run Post Office Road. It was built by RulyScapes Inc. of Centreville, Denison Landscaping, JK Enterprises and John Deere Landscapes. All participants sponsored a recent NHLA National Day of Service there. The nonprofit SYA is comprised of youth athletes, coaches, parents, grandparents and young siblings, many of whom are Hispanics. NHLA members, RulyScapes and Denison Landscaping, took the lead in donating materials and organizing the project. John Deer Landscapes contributed 260 50-pound bags of lime, valued at $1,425, and JK Enterprises donated $462 worth of wood chips. Total value of all the contribution was more than $8,000. Besides helping SYA provide another recreational outlet for area children, NHLA also participated to draw attention to the environmental and health benefits of the roughly seven acres of naturalgrass fields. ���We feel very proud that we could have accomplished this project in such a short period of time,��� said RulyScapes general manager Raul Berrios. ���We are grateful to the other landscape companies that have supported this event to make it happen for the benefit of the youth in our area.��� After the excavation and leveling was completed a trench was dug to set and nail the 6��� by 6��� timbers in the ground. A separation landscape fabric was placed under the woodchips, then the ground base for the new playground was constructed. Lime was spread to all the baseball and soccer fields. The whole project was completed in two days. More than $3,000 in materials, plus labor was donated, to construct a 40x60-foot playground with swings and slides. Low groundlevel activities, such as a balance beam, tunnel and see-saw provided entertainment for children of various ages. ���I personally was a coach for this youth organization for many years,��� said Berrios. ���After a conversation with the president of SYA and his concerns about a safe playground for siblings during games it was a perfect match to build a playground.��� PLANET with the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance, encouraged contractors to serve their communities commemorating Earth day. That was the spark that pull the trigger to pick this project and execute it, said Berrios. Top: Volunteers from RulyScapes built a playground and added lime to five natural grass ball fields for Southwestern Youth Association in Centreville, Va. From left are former Southwestern Youth Association player Sara Berrios, RulyScapes operations manager Marco Lavayen, SYA president Gary Flather and RulyScapes general manager Raul Berrios with RulyScapes fieldcrew members. Above: RulyScapes and Denison Landscaping, took the lead in donating materials and organizing the project. John Deer Landscapes contributed 260 50-pound bags of lime, valued at $1,425, and JK Enterprises donated $462 worth of wood chips. Total value of all the contribution was more than $8,000. Photos Courtesy of rulysCaPes, InC. Story Ideas? If you have a project where landscape services were donated pro bono, you can submit your Off the Clock proposal to: lshield@landscapeonline.com or call Larry Shield at (714) 979-5276 x125. Landscape Contractor / Design ��� Build ��� Maintain (LC/DBM) (ISSN 2150-9093), is published monthly by Landscape Communications, Inc. 14771 Plaza Drive, Suite M, Tustin, California, 92780 Phone: 714-979-5276; Fax: 714-434-3862. Online version (ISSN 2150-9170). Copyright 2013 by Landscape Communications, Inc. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. Periodicals postage paid at Tustin, CA and additional mailing offices. Subscription Inquiries: Send new or renewal notices or change of address (send both new and old addresses to Landscape Contractor / Design ��� Build ��� Maintain, P.O. Box 1126, Tustin, CA 92781-1126. Subscriptions: Licensed Landscape Contractors free of charge. Others: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii & Canada, 12 issues, $34.95, 24 issues, $55.00, Mexico: 12 issues, $65.00 per year. Additional copies may be purchased by contacting LC/DBM at circulation@landscapeonline.com or 714-979-5276 ext. 115. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Landscape Contractor / Design ��� Build ��� Maintain, P.O. Box 1126, Tustin, CA 92781-1126. April 2013 63