Feature Search

Team Andersen volunteers tear down safety hazard to protect base community

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carissa Wolff
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Twelve Team Andersen volunteers recently tore down a playground that has been a safety hazard here for more than five years.

The playground, located near Chapel Two, Outdoor Recreation and the Child Development Center, was damaged when Typhoons Chataan and Pongsona hit Guam in 2002. At the time the playground had only been in use for six months before it was damaged and deemed unsafe.

"The playground was not within safety compliance regulations," said Emie Cox, 36th Force Support Squadron youth program director. "The playground needed to be taken down due to structural defects. Some of the defects were things such as a piece of a slide missing and a support beam corroded to the point that no weight could be placed on it."

The base youth center wanted to take down the playground, but no funds were available for the project.

Team Andersen volunteers stepped up to dismantle the playground hoping to help the base community by eliminating it as a safety issue.

"The playground was unsafe; I think that the area where the playground was could be better utilized," said Staff Sgt. Curt Mitchell, 36th FSS First Term Airmen Center noncommissioned officer in charge. "Now the children have more space to play in the open. Removing the playground was one way we could help protect the base community we work and live on."

According to youth center teen coordinator, Daniel Aflleje, 36th FSS, there are long-term plans for the site.

"We are planning to put a water works or splash pad in that area in the future," Mr. Aflleje said. "The splash pad would include things such as sprinklers, water shoots that shoot up from the ground and water spouts."

For more information, contact the youth center at 366-3490.