York Town News
A community comes together to build Benjamin Park
By Jennifer L. Saunders
Volunteers like those pictured here worked throughout the day on Saturday, June 9, to build Benjamin Park: the Bog Road Community Playground.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - This past Saturday, Katie and David Wholey worked alongside strangers and friends as a dream they have nurtured for more than two years took shape.
Benjamin Park, a community playground located adjacent to the town's athletic fields on Bog Road, came into being after the Wholey family began an effort to raise money for a special place to be created in memory of their baby son Benjamin, who died just hours before his birth in January of 2005.
Although the Wholeys had moved to Massachusetts after the loss of their son, they decided they wanted to see the playground built in York, where they had anticipated afternoons of playing with their older son Joey and baby, Ben.
The new playground is the place where the young family will bring Joey - and his new little sister - to think of their brother, David and Katie have said since beginning their work with York Parks and Recreation about 18 months ago.
Benjamin Park is also the place where countless children will come to play when their siblings are involved in sports or when the playground at Short Sands Beach is filled to capacity with visitors during the summer months.
On Saturday, June 9, volunteers turned out in droves to join the Wholeys at the Bog Road Playground Build, hosted by York Parks and Recreation. From local residents to a youth group that traveled from Massachusetts to be a part of the event, there was no shortage of support for this effort.
Despite the threat of rain, and even a lunchtime shower, the volunteers were undaunted, said Recreation Department Special Events Coordinator Robin Cogger, pausing for a moment between tasks as volunteers stabilized play structures, raked mulch and entertained youngsters so their parents could help create the playground.
"The first volunteers started arriving at 7 a.m., and there has been a steady stream of volunteers all day," Cogger said.
Parks and Recreation Director Mike Sullivan praised the Wholeys and the community as a whole for embracing the idea, helping with the fundraising and then coming together to create the park.
"It really is a community effort," he said.
