Each year, many playgrounds are decommissioned throughout the United States. Is your agency or another community you know installing a new playground? If yes, I’d ask you to consider the useful life expectancy of your decommissioned playground.
Would you be willing to donate a used playground to help a community across the globe achieve its first park and first playground?
Just be who you are and we will have a playground in no time!
Parks and recreation professionals find lasting careers in this field because of their hard work, experience, knowledge, and networks. Despite long hours and below average pay, they finding meaning in what they accomplish because they make a difference in the world.
They even open their own wallets to help at risk communities, underserved populations and community members and other professionals in need.
Ultimately, the leaders in the field show that parks and recreation is important and valuable through their work and their wallets. Both are important, but I believe the real reason parks and recreation is so special is because the people who work in the field generously share both.
Time and again, I have been the recipient of this shared knowledge, network, and generosity and I hope you would be willing to share once again!
I need your guidance to help a small, rural community in a developing nation. In 2023, I joined a mission’s trip to Bilisht, Albania (Ba-Lee-Shht), a town of roughly 10,000 people on the border of southwest Albania and Greece. Bilisht desires to establish its FIRST park and what is a park without a playground? Just ground? You can help put the play into this park!
Where is Bilisht, let alone, Albania? Why should I help?
Albania is located in Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south. It boasts a stunning coastline along the Adriatic Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the southwest. The country is characterized by its diverse geography, featuring rugged mountains, fertile plains, and picturesque lakes, which contribute to its natural beauty and biodiversity.
Recent history in Albania has been shaped by dramatic political and social changes since the early 20th century. Following its declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, Albania faced significant challenges, including territorial disputes and a lack of international recognition. The monarchy established in 1928 lasted until World War II, when Albania was occupied by Italian and then German forces. After the war, Enver Hoxha’s communist regime ruled from 1944 until his death in 1985, enforcing cruel policy. The fall of communism in the early 1990s led to a turbulent transition to democracy, marked by economic hardship and political instability. Despite these challenges, Albania has made significant progress in recent years, pursuing European integration, strengthening its democratic institutions, and improving its economy, reflecting a commitment to modernization and development on the global stage.
Bilisht is located in SE Albania on the border of Greece. It is the political center of Devoll, a municipality or what we might better understand as a state or county.
New Dawn, New Park?
Albania exists in the dawn of a new era. Fragile freedom reigns in place of decades of cruel dictatorial rule. The gaps between the rich and the poor that were established by this system remain today. The average household attempts to live on $300.00 per month in wages. Imagine facing a medical crisis with $300.00 per month in living wages. Entire extended families absorb a lifetime of debt to collectively pay for a family member’s hospital stay!
This is one example of the personal financial hardships of residents of Bilisht, Albania but immense pride and determination remains. It is evident in their fashionable style, their vegetable gardens, and in their beautiful homes. The winds of change are blowing as well.
Community Center Spurs Growth
Albania is a country of interest to the European Union, and it has made local investments in immigration aid and border safety as well as constructing and staffing the first ever community center in Bilisht. This Community Center sits on the edge of open space, a shared green space of roughly 5 acres that is partially owned by the local government and a church that I visited on my mission’s trip. The church and the local government have been working together to better their community.
As the Community Center was built, vision for the adjacent green space grew. Recently, the city agreed to lease their portion of the open space to the church. The church has a plan to create the community’s first park next to the Community Center.
Besides securing the lease, much progress has been made on the park in the last few years. An architect donated their services to create a conceptual design for the space. Th vision for the park is to create a place to meet, play, and work. Job development is an essential component of the park because the local economy is depressed with 30% of the population unemployed (imagine great depression era numbers) and an even higher percentage low income. In addition to the donated architectural services, the church has raised $40,000 to begin. Earthwork is in progress and the park is coming to life.
Imagine how important the first park was to our communities over 150 years ago!
Here is where your knowledge and networks are important because this park ground needs play. That’s right, it is missing an essential element at the moment. What is a park without a playground? I don’t want to find out! Here is how you can help:
At the outset of the project, Playgrounds Everywhere was a partner. They prepared a refurbished playground design and were willing to ship the playground from Chicago with two team members to help install the playground. It would have cost roughly $14,000 to prepare, ship, and install the playground. The cost would have been covered by donations, but unfortunately that trail has gone cold.
Is there another playground company that refurbishes old equipment that you could recommend? Do you have a contact you can share or connection you would be willing to make?
Each year, many playgrounds are decommissioned throughout the United States. Is your agency or another community you know installing a new playground? If yes, I’d ask you to consider the useful life expectancy of your playground. Would anyone be willing to donate their playground?
This could be an amazing opportunity to help a community across the globe achieve its first park and first playground.
The magic of playgrounds everywhere was that they were willing to send people to help install the playground. The third, final, and maybe most difficult ask of this post is: Do you know anyone who is skilled in playground installation that would be willing to lead installation?
In summary, my asks are:
- Would you share your knowledge and connections by sharing companies or non-profits we can contact?
- Is there a decommissioned playground you are willing to donate?
- Are you able to share your playground expertise to help a small rural town find the endless benefits in Parks and Recreation?
I’m confident your work makes a difference in the lives of Illinoisans on a daily basis. I also believe you are willing to extend your impact to a community in need on the other side of the world.
This park. This playground. This is your mission amplified.
Yes, the benefits of Parks and Recreation are endless. If we really believe that, then poverty won’t stop us. Logistics won’t be an issue. I believe you can help us find the playground. Thank you for sharing your ideas, connections, and resources. You have my deepest gratitude.
