The primary boosters of the new playground, known as Fairmount School Project Playground, knew by late last year that a new playground that would meet updated safety codes needed to be built. Twenty years after the original playground was built, Hellpap pointed to what is needed to make a new one rise in its place.

"We’re going to need 1,500 to 3,000 volunteers during those four days to build the playground," she said. "That includes cooking food for people, cutting the wood and babysitting the kids. We need volunteers for everything."

Project Playground certainly needs an influx of people in October to get things done. But what the project also needs right now is an infusion of cash.

"We’ve raised about $100,000 so far," said Hellpap, noting that additional funds are needed to cover construction costs as well as provide for maintenance and contingency funds. "The money has come primarily from private donations so far, and we have a lot of promises for materials and supplies from places like Home Depot and Joseph Sanzari Building Corp. But we still haven’t got a lot of corporate support. We’re hoping that local corporations realize that a playground is very community-involved project. When you’re in a community, you’re supposed to give back. We’re hoping that more companies will decide that they want to give back and donate to our playground fund."

Focusing on fun

The new playground will have both familiar and new components, including a tree fort, pirate ship, castle, fire pole and firehouse. A refurbished amphitheater will serve as an outdoor classroom. The new composite materials that the playground will be built with will cut down on splinters, and a rock-climbing wall will help kids build themselves up. But for Hellpap, the opportunity to construct a new playground gives the people of Hackensack a chance to build up their sense of community.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity," she said. "A lot of people remember building the first playground. Now people have a new chance to make Hackensack a better place to live and a nicer place for our kids to grow up in. Our kids not only need a place to play every day and get their energy out in a safe environment. Our kids need to know that if we all work together, we can do just about anything."

For Hellpap and the rest of the people behind Project Playground, the time to get it done is now.

"It’s going to be a lot of work and a lot of fun," she said. "People should come out, bake a cake, bring their tools and write some checks."

For additional information about Fairmount School Project Playground, including the upcoming Sept. 25 Back To School Night raffle as well as how to volunteer and how to donate, call Stephanie Hellpap at 201-681-9657.