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In 1994, several concerned citizens met to discuss the possibility of constructing a community playground. The group was chaired by Mike Porter. An executive committee was elected and consisted of Mike & Kim Porter, Jack Robertson, Pam Sweeney, Cindy Bishop, Pam Rayle, and Mike Lancaster. Later, Terri Glosser, Stephanie Haughn, and Maggie Patterson joined the committee and all performed invaluable service during the construction period.
The committee held regular meetings for several months and formulated plans for many fund raising projects and donation drives. Leathers and Associates was selected to be the architectural firm to design and oversee construction.
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After almost two years of hard work, the building time was drawing near. A Leathers architect visited for two days and talked to many area elementary school students. Many ideas were presented -- tunnels, castles, secret phones, circular slides, a swinging drawbridge, etc. The architect drew his interpretation of what a good design might be. The Executive committee made only a few changes and a final building week was chosen. The project was almost ready!
The building effort was truly an amazing experience! There were about 500 people who spent parts or whole days working on the five day construction project. EVERYTHING was donated -- time and tools by the local community. Leathers architects served as guides while the community truly built its own playground. Behind the scenes, there were cooks, child care, and a whole army of support volunteers.
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Finally, at 4 pm on the last day....the kids were held at the edge of Cherry Street playground and unleashed on Fort Gilead. For those many, many people who donated countless hours of work, many dollars, tools, and more, it was a magnificent sight to behold.
Since the first opening of Fort Gilead, hundreds of children have enjoyed the $80,000 construction. It is a magnificent addition to Mount Gilead. The names of donors are still to be seen on the picket fence surrounding the playground, on the bricks at its entrance, and on benches within the play area.
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