Oct 28 2008
Rebuild Fort Natomas
Rebuild Fort Natomas is happening November 4th through 9th. It’s not too late to lend a hand in this worthwhile community project by volunteering your time, tools or donating cash to help the cause.
The original Fort Natomas was built in Jefferson Park in 1991 by volunteers from the community with $110,000 in donations that were raised to turn 12,000 square foot of dirt into a wonderful playground with mazes and slides. The walls were covered with tiles created and decorated by families and children from the community making it uniquely personal.
Fort Natomas
On June 26, 2006, a devastating fire destroyed our beloved Fort Natomas. Before the fire was even extinguished Natomas residents began rallying to rebuild Fort Natomas, which they did in November 2006. During a 6 day period 2500 volunteers including some teenagers that grew up playing in the park gave time and money to build the new park. The new play park was even better and more colorful with a custom painted tree mural on the climbing wall and the tile wall restored as well.
Just 23 months later in May 2008 due to arson the entire play structure went up in flames again. A person has been arrested and has pled guilty to the felony fire. The local citizens and business community are again pulling together to rebuild this special park, but in a more visible location. The city recently approved a proposal that Fort Natomas be relocated at Truxel Road and Bannon Creek Dr. at the South Natomas Library and Community Center. Volunteers and tools are still needed; so even if you don’t feel comfortable swinging a hammer we need people for food preparation and serving, child care, or just help spread the word and tell others about the rebuild effort. Click on this link for all the details.
Thanks for this interesting article. I didn’t know about this, but I’m glad you provide this information to everyone. Very well written.
I support this 110%. It is a real shame that twice this park has been burnt down. It may not seem to be a major crime to many, but this type of action deserves some serious jail time, plus a hefty fine. I would say firing squad, but that might be a bit extreme. If it were younger persons doing this I would say that a boot camp might be in order.
Anyway I will be there to lend a hand to rebuild, and I urge everyone to take part. See you at the rebuild….
Excellent writing. I seem to like everything that I read. Keep it up.
[...] Year’s Resolution to exercise more. It also gave me a great chance to take a look at the newly reconstructed Fort Natomas play park in full use. The kids there were having a great time with all the new outdoor toys, and best of [...]